Improving Breast Cancer Outcomes Through Quality Care: Call to Action for the Implementation of the Breast Cancer Care Quality Index (BCCQI)

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and a leading cause of mortality. Stark differences in outcomes across income levels, regions, population groups, and healthcare systems reflect deep inequities in access to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Due to remarkable scientific advances and many global initiatives, breast cancer is often perceived as a “finished agenda”. This Call to Action, led and endorsed by a multidisciplinary panel of international experts in breast cancer care, policy, and healthcare systems, provides a structured approach to guide countries in improving breast cancer care through the Breast Cancer Care Quality Index (BCCQI), a unified, expert-endorsed tool that translates broad guidance into practical metrics. The Call to Action outlines a framework for country profiling across the BCCQI dimensions: early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive management, and strong and resilient healthcare systems. Applying a structured self-assessment matrix linked to tiered recommendations, the Call to Action supports country performance assessment and the development of context-sensitive roadmaps for concrete interventions. By linking assessment to actionable guidance, the Call to Action underscores the urgency of coordinated national efforts and international support to close existing gaps and accelerate progress toward high-quality breast cancer care for all patients.