Digital Health and Cancer Survivorship: Kapa3 at the INE-CSC 2026 Conference in Coimbra

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 participated in the INE-CSC 2026 Conference, part of CA21152 – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care (INE-CSC), held on 25–26 May 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine (Polo III), University of Coimbra, in Coimbra, Portugal.

The conference was held under the theme “The Next Chapter – Empowering Individuals, Families, and Society for Cancer Survivorship & Supportive Care”, highlighting the need for new approaches to cancer survivorship, supportive care and the translation of innovation into real-world impact for people living with and beyond cancer, their families and society.

Kapa3’s presence in Coimbra represents another important step in its European engagement and in its ongoing effort to connect everyday experience in supporting cancer patients in Greece with European knowledge, research, digital innovation and health policy.

A key highlight was the participation in a round table discussion on facilitators and barriers to the implementation of digital health tools in oncology. The discussion was co-organised by Aristea Kyriaki Ladas and Christos Frantzidis and brought together voices from different European countries and organisations, including representatives from Kapa3, Acreditar Portugal, Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, ORCO / Madrid Regional Ministry of Health, as well as participants from Poland, Latvia and the United Kingdom.

Among the participants in the round table were Yannis Kontogiorgis and Despoina Pistiolis from Kapa3, Greece, contributing to the European dialogue on digital health, oncology navigation and the participatory development of solutions that respond to the real needs of patients and caregivers.

One of the key messages of the discussion was that digital innovation in oncology is not only a technological challenge. It is also a matter of policy, implementation, equity, trust and accessibility.

For digital tools to make a meaningful difference in cancer care and survivorship, they cannot remain isolated applications or pilot projects. They need to become part of real care pathways, be supported by appropriate policy environments, connect with interdisciplinary practice and be evaluated in terms of effectiveness, implementation readiness, accessibility, equity, sustainability and value.

The discussion also highlighted that digital tools must be designed around the real needs of patients and survivors, not only around technical possibilities. Accessibility across countries, languages, healthcare systems and levels of digital and health literacy must be built in from the beginning.

The role of patient organisations and cancer support communities was also identified as essential. These organisations can act as a bridge between technological innovation and the everyday reality of people affected by cancer. They understand the questions, barriers, fears and needs that are often not fully captured by formal care systems.

For Kapa3, this participation is directly linked to the development of Myrto, its digital health and rights navigator, designed as a tool for empowerment, guidance and support for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Myrto is not approached as a simple information tool. It is being designed as a participatory intervention built around the real needs of people with lived experience of cancer. It is connected to access to rights, social benefits, services, practical guidance and human escalation whenever needed.

The Coimbra experience strengthened the view that digital health must be human-centred, accessible, trustworthy and integrated into a broader ecosystem of care. Technology can meaningfully support cancer care only when it is designed with participation, trust, clear purpose and an equity-oriented approach.

Cancer survivorship is not only about completing treatment. It is about quality of life, mental health, social reintegration, work, family, everyday life, access to services and the feeling that no person is left alone after diagnosis or treatment.

Through its participation in European networks such as INE-CSC, Kapa3 continues to contribute to the dialogue on more equitable, participatory and person-centred cancer care. Care that uses technology without losing sight of the human being at its centre.

The future of cancer support will not depend only on better digital tools, but on better collaboration between patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, technology partners, patient organisations and policymakers.

For Kapa3, this is at the heart of its mission: transforming knowledge into action, technology into support, and the voice of patients into services that respond to their real needs.

More information: INE-CSC – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care.More information:
https://inecancersurvivorship.com

“Leave no one behind: Equity in access to palliative care.”

World Palliative Care Day is a moment to recognize that healthcare is not only about curing disease — it’s also about caring, comforting, and preserving dignity until the very end. Everyone deserves the best possible care, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Globally, more than 50 million people die each year, and it is estimated that around 60% would benefit from hospice and palliative care. Yet access remains deeply unequal: only about 14% of the 73 million adults and children who need palliative care actually receive it. Most of this need is met in high-income countries, while in low- and middle-income regions only 4% of the population in need is served. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed these disparities, highlighting the urgent need to integrate palliative care into public health systems worldwide.

Palliative care is about the whole person — their physical comfort, emotional well-being, social environment, and spiritual peace. It aims to ease pain and suffering while supporting families and caregivers through counselling, practical help, and compassion. Studies show that early integration of palliative care in cancer treatment can improve symptom control, quality of life, and even survival rates.

According to the World Health Organization, palliative care development should follow a public health approach that includes policy, education, medicine availability, and community empowerment. In many countries, especially where health resources are limited, training healthcare professionals and raising public awareness can make a real difference. Local communities, volunteers, and patient organizations play a vital role in reaching those who might otherwise be left behind — offering presence, empathy, and human warmth that no medical intervention can replace.

In Greece, the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO) has emphasized the importance of developing a national palliative care framework. Every year, more than 120,000 people in Greece are estimated to need such care — nearly 37% of them cancer patients — but specialized services remain limited, particularly outside large cities. The HeSMO position paper calls for education, policy support, and the inclusion of palliative care at all levels of the healthcare system.

At Kapa3, we stand with patients and families who face serious illness. Through awareness, advocacy, and human connection, we work toward a healthcare model that values quality of life as much as longevity. Palliative care is not about giving up — it’s about living fully, with dignity, comfort, and compassion, every step of the way.

Category: Hospice Care

World Palliative Care Day – 11 October 2025