Concepts of the society of paediatric oncology and haematology (GPOH) and the German competence network in paediatric oncology and haernatology for the quality controlled development in paediatric oncology

For more than 30 years Paediatric Oncology has striven to achieve an optimum of care for children with cancer everywhere. The consistency of diagnostic procedures and treatment within successive therapy studies has yielded high cure rates. Meanwhile the focus has moved to placing the quality control of diagnostics and treatment into the hands of experts in the field, accommodating new requirements of the health care system. We report on the already realised and the future concepts and methods employed in improving the quality in institutions and studies with the support of the German Competence Network in Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (Kompetenznetz Padiatrische Onkologie und Hamatologie, KPOH). The issue of per-patient flat rate funding is raised, and structural requirements to be fulfilled by Centers of Paediatric Oncology are presented and discussed.