France Officially Launches Its Long-Awaited National Cancer Registry

France Finally Launches Its National Cancer Registry

France has officially launched its long-anticipated National Cancer Registry, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s fight against cancer. Announced by the Ministry of Health and the National Cancer Institute (INCa), the initiative lays the foundation for a unified system that gathers and analyses data from all cancer cases across the country.

The decree establishing the registry was published in the Journal Officiel earlier this week, signalling the government’s intent to catch up with other European nations that have long had similar nationwide health databases.

“This marks a major advance in understanding and combating cancer in France,”
Dr. Norbert Ifrah, President of the INCa.

Why This Registry Matters

Until now, France’s cancer data has been fragmented across 27 regional registries covering only about 20–24% of the population. This limited approach left blind spots, particularly among vulnerable communities and in areas facing higher environmental risks.

The new national registry will change that by offering:

Comprehensive national coverage, ensuring every case is recorded.
Pseudonymised data for enhanced privacy and security.
Centralised data integration from hospitals, laboratories, and national health databases.
Better resources for research, prevention, and targeted treatments.

According to the INCa, the registry will help France “objectively measure inequalities, assess prevention and screening programmes, and guide public health policies more effectively.”

France’s Delay Compared to Europe

France’s lack of a unified cancer registry has been seen as a notable gap in its otherwise advanced health system. By contrast, 22 European countries already operate national databases, enabling faster responses and more effective medical strategies.

This shortfall became even more concerning after a 2025 study published in The Lancet ranked France among the countries most affected by cancer worldwide, with 389.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2023 alone, France saw around 433,000 new cancer diagnoses and 164,000 related deaths, making it the leading cause of death nationwide.

A Phased Rollout Starting in 2026

The national registry will begin its progressive deployment in January 2026 as part of the Decade-Long Cancer Strategy (2021–2030).

Key steps include:

Early 2026: Stakeholder conferences bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient groups.
Data integration phase: Combining existing cancer registries and hospital databases into a single, sovereign data platform.
Research access: Controlled access for studies and analyses to advance cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

All data will be stored in a secure, sovereign cloud environment, ensuring privacy and compliance with French and EU data protection standards.

A Step Forward for Cancer Prevention and Public Health

The national registry represents much more than just data collection — it’s a fundamental shift towards evidence-based healthcare. By mapping cancer patterns more precisely, policymakers and researchers will be able to:

Identify high-risk areas and populations.
Monitor progress in early detection and survival rates.
Tailor prevention efforts to social and regional realities.
Strengthen France’s global role in cancer research and innovation.

As France finally joins the ranks of countries with national cancer registries, this initiative underscores a strong political and scientific commitment to reducing cancer’s devastating toll on society.