Advocacy

The CSF wants to ensure that there is a high quality of cancer care and patient support equally throughout Finland. The organisation seeks to influence social structures so that as many types of cancer as possible can be prevented and people are easily able to make sensible decisions regarding their own health. Social advocacy is also done by boosting cancer research and increasing the knowledge base of decision-making. Based on the Finnish Cancer Registry’s expertise, decision-makers are lobbied to develop Finnish cancer screening programmes.

The CSF presents suggestions to health care decision-makers and health care providers for improving the entire patient care pathway: cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, patient and loved one support, rehabilitation support, follow-up, palliative care, and hospice care.

The CSF actively carries out electoral advocacy work in the run-up to national elections. The CSF’s goals regarding the government programme can be found here (in Finnish). The CSF also promotes its goals through regular contacts with those drafting and taking policy decisions, as well as by being involved in social debate. The CSF issues statements on matters under preparation and is involved in ministry working groups. In 2020, the CSF is represented in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Heath’s screening steering group, the steering group for biobank legislation, and in the working group to examine regulatory needs concerning good end-of-life care and patients’ right to self-determination as well as terminal care and euthanasia.

The National Cancer Centre (FINCAN) is an important partner and focal point for the CSF in its advocacy work within the health care system. The CSF has compiled development suggestions and recommendations targeted at healthcare professionals and decision-makers into the Patient’s Path package ( in Finnish).

The CSF also carries out advocacy work internationally, including in the EU. This is described in more detail in the section on international activities.