Latvian Cancer Centre receives European oncology quality accreditation

The Latvian Cancer Centre at Eastern Hospital has received international OECI accreditation confirming its compliance with European quality standards for cancer diagnosis, treatment, care, research, education and management, LSM reported, citing the hospital.

Eastern Hospital provides diagnosis, treatment and care to about 40,000 oncology patients each year, and the number of services it delivers continues to grow.

The accreditation certificate confirms that the Latvian Cancer Centre’s work is organised and assessed according to common European quality standards for cancer centres. For patients, this means that cancer care processes in Latvia are being developed in line with a recognised European quality approach, with greater emphasis on clear treatment plans, cooperation between specialists, information exchange, continuity of care and patient involvement.

“For a patient, a cancer diagnosis means a very complex and emotionally difficult journey, so it is our duty to make this journey as clear, coordinated and safe as possible,” Eastern Hospital board chairman Vadims Beļuns said. “OECI accreditation gives us an internationally recognised quality framework against which to assess and improve our daily work, from diagnosis and treatment planning to care, patient information and follow-up.”

The accreditation process assessed the centre’s management, multidisciplinary cooperation, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and early cancer detection, research, quality management, patient involvement and education. In total, 345 criteria in nine areas were evaluated.

OECI auditors concluded that the Latvian Cancer Centre had made significant progress since the assessment visit in November 2024. They highlighted its coordinated and development-oriented team, effective multidisciplinary cooperation, the development and implementation of clinical patient pathways, the involvement of patient representatives in management, and systematic improvement of oncology care quality.

As part of the accreditation process, the centre developed and implemented 36 clinical patient pathways, with more than 180 specialists involved in their preparation.