The value of accreditation for cancer patients: from end users to partners.

The Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) accreditation program is a resource for European cancer patients, insofar as it certifies the quality and organization of cancer care in European cancer centers. As the report on the accreditation program implementation in Italy showed, cancer patient organizations and their volunteers play a fundamental role within the cancer institute, particularly in informing and guiding cancer patients. This article explores Italian best practices and suggests embedding the lessons learned in the OECI accreditation program. Furthermore, the article launches the concept of a European Cancer Patients Bill of Rights in cancer institutes, to be used as a tool by both OECI centers and European Cancer Patient Coalition members to enhance the quality of the collaboration between cancer centers and patient organizations.