The ESMO Designated Centres (DC) Accreditation Programme, initiated in 2003, recognises cancer centres that provide integrated oncology and palliative care services, with the goal of improving research, education and clinical practice by setting standards for service development.
The Programme objectives include:
- Promoting the integration of palliative care services into the existing national cancer care guidelines
- Encouraging palliative care education and training for medical oncologists as well as other healthcare professionals
- Expanding the cooperation between ESMO and other existing professional medical associations and organisations worldwide in supporting and sustaining palliative care development
Accreditation Criteria
To become an ESMO Designated Centre you will need to fulfill all 13 criteria, which are based on recommendations from the World Health Organization guidelines on the provision of palliative care for patients with cancer:
Who can apply and how to apply
Cancer centres which provide comprehensive services in supportive and palliative care as part of their routine care can apply to receive the ESMO recognition as an "ESMO Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care". The ESMO DCs accreditation is valid for three years and the centres can reapply.
How to apply |
Deadline |
|---|---|
The application is currently undergoing updates and will re-open in January 2025 |
Will open in January 2025 |
Before completing the online application, please use this document as a guide.
Please note that:
- Applications must be in English and should include the official institute emails for the centre named within the application.
- The centres corresponding physician must be an ESMO member or apply before sending their application. Not a member? Apply for membership here.
- The narrative description element of the application must adhere to the criteria structure and should not feature lists or subsections.
- Applications may not be accepted if they do not follow the guidance, do not fully complete all sections and/or do not sufficiently meet the 13 criteria.
- The Designated Centres Working Group may perform 'ad hoc visits' to accredited centres.
The centres receiving the certification will be entitled to:
- Use the subtitle, 'ESMO Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care'
- Use the ESMO logo in accordance with the ESMO Logo Policy (marketing/advertising related to the centre itself. No advertising of specific events)
- Be eligible to receive fellows in palliative medicine supported by ESMO grants