The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) is launching a new strategy for cancer care that it hopes will yearly save 30,000 lives by 2020. Health chiefs want to nearly double the number of cancer tests that are conducted, and provide patients with an accurate diagnosis within a month, in order to speed up treatment.
The NHS report states that 280,000 Brits received a cancer diagnosis from 2013-2014, according to Pierce Pioneer. In 2020 it is projected to hit 300,000.
Simon Stevens is NHS England's chief executive. He said that his organization will also invest £2 billion ($3.1 billion) in new cancer equipment.
Stevens noted that while half of Brits will get cancer during their lives, the disease's survival rates are at an all-time high, according to Mirror. He added that 40 percent of cancers can be prevented.
The NHS reported that previous cancer strategies did a "great job." However, it also mentioned that NHS and the UK government will now make investments to quickly implement its new strategy.
This week the Independent Cancer Taskforce (ICT) will release its report. ICT chairman Harpal Kumar stated that while the medical world is better informed about cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, "action" is now needed.
ICT has set a 5-year-plan. It includes various goals including providing 95 percent of patients with a cancer diagnosis within a month, and an 80 percent boost in cancer tests conducted.
Experts have estimated that 30,000 cancer victims will survive cancer for a decade or more. Early diagnosis will account for 11,000 of them.
The health service also wants to start nationwide action plans to reduce obesity and smoking. A 20-cigarette pack could be jacked up £15 ($23) by 2020, in order to reduce smoking levels to 13 percent. It is 18.4 percent now.
ICT also hopes to see an obesity action plan. It would make a path for new taxes on fast food, sugary treats, and soft drinks.