EHA launches strategy for better AYA hematology care across Europe

EHA has now published the Board-approved Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Strategic Agenda, a roadmap to improve care for young people with hematologic diseases throughout Europe.  

Adolescents and young adults face unique biological, psychological, and social challenges that require a tailored approach.

That is why EHA developed this strategy, which covers malignant and non-malignant conditions and outlines collaboration, education, research, and advocacy objectives. The strategy embeds the patient perspective in every initiative.

Strategy development

Developed by EHA’s multidisciplinary AYA Taskforce, the agenda is grounded in insights from a major, Europe-wide survey of healthcare professionals. The survey mapped gaps in service provision across Europe and highlighted barriers and facilitators to effective, high-quality AYA care.

Five strategic goals

The agenda sets out five complementary goals:

• Analysis: Gaining a deeper understanding of the current landscape of AYA care across Europe to guide prioritization of EHA’s activities.
• Improving Standards of Care: Developing consensus recommendations with key stakeholders, and addressing gaps in disease-specific guidelines.
• Policy: Advocating for optimal care by engaging with European stakeholders and supporting cross-border initiatives.
• Education: Expanding training resources for healthcare professionals caring for AYAs.
• Research: Facilitating projects that address the distinct needs of AYA patients.

Implementation and next steps

To drive these efforts, EHA will establish an overarching AYA Specialized Working Group (SWG). The SWG will be multidisciplinary and include patient advocates to ensure the patient voice remains at the heart of future initiatives.

Publication

Details of the strategic agenda have been published in HemaSphere as an open-access article.