The French National Cancer Institute is responsible for coordinating the fight against cancer. To this end, it carries out the following tasks in particular:
1° Proposing, in co-ordination with research organisations, public and private cancer operators, healthcare professionals, users of the healthcare system and other interested parties, a ten-year strategy to combat cancer, laid down by decree. The strategy defines the areas of cancer research and the allocation of the corresponding resources, and in particular specifies the proportion of public funding allocated to paediatric cancer research. The Institute is responsible for its implementation. The Institute’s Scientific Council gives its opinion on this strategy. It re-evaluates the relevance of the strategy halfway through its term;
1° Observation and evaluation of the cancer control system, with the support of healthcare professionals, industrialists and user representatives;
2° Defining guidelines for good practice and care in cancerology, as well as criteria for the approval of establishments and healthcare professionals practising cancerology;
3° Informing professionals and the public about all issues relating to cancer;
4° Participation in setting up and validating continuing medical and paramedical training courses for professionals and people involved in the fight against cancer;
5° Implementing, financing and coordinating specific research and development initiatives, and designating cancer research entities and organisations that meet quality criteria, in liaison with the public research bodies concerned;
6° Development and monitoring of joint actions between public and private operators in cancer research in the fields of prevention, epidemiology, screening, research, teaching, care and evaluation;
7° Participation in the development of European and international initiatives;
8° Carrying out, at the request of the ministers concerned, any expert appraisal on issues relating to cancer research and the fight against cancer.
The National Cancer Institute draws up an annual activity report which is sent to the Government and Parliament.