The Avon Institute implements a navigational project for cancer patients

Since December 2022, Avon Institutea non-profit organization working to defend the basic rights of women, in partnership with flee – The Associação Feminina de Aprendizagem has trained 16 health professionals in the interior regions of Minas Gerais for the personal follow-up of patients with cancer released. Between February and May of this year, more than 1,190 women from the cities of Minas Gerais have already received patient mobility benefits to follow all stages of treatment. Ten municipalities are participating in the Navegavon ​​project to train seafarers: Argirita; Spouts. Guarara exposed. sea ​​of ​​spain; Maripa de Minas; Bakery. Sens. Curtis Mines Rock and St. John Nepomuceno.

“We want to ensure that the rights guaranteed to Brazilian women are known to them, such as mobility among breast cancer patients. In addition, our goal is to improve the quality of care to transform the reality of those who are being tested for the disease or who need treatment, thus expanding the possibilities for recovery from case,” says Daniela Grellin, executive director of the Avon Institute.

Preliminary results from the first months of the project showed that training patients in navigation at the Avon Institute increased compliance with the 60-day rule to 60% in the 10 control cities. The standard states that people with cancer can access treatment within 60 days after diagnosis. Previously, the percentage of compliance with current legislation was only 22% in these municipalities. The training will be completed in the district later this month and is expected to reach around 7,300 women.

Since last year, women with breast cancer have been entitled to benefit from the National Patient Guidance Program for People with Malignant Breast Tumor (Law 14,450).

Patient mobility is a concept that makes it possible to speed up diagnosis, ensure faster initiation of treatment and consistency in medical follow-up, as well as provide complete care in the face of the complex bureaucracy and challenges present in the patient journey. For women with the disease, the initiative allows a health professional to provide individualized care to ensure compliance with the 30- and 60-day laws and ensure continuity of treatment, schedule medical appointments, monitor test results and repeat treatment.

“Simple interventions to improve, target and personalize care work together to reduce the barriers patients face from diagnosis to treatment, such as, for example, difficulties scheduling appointments, examinations and procedures in close proximity to their place of residence, and barriers to mobility and maintaining medical routines,” says Daniela Grellin: “Changing the time margin and facilitating access for these patients reduces costs to the health system, improves adherence to treatment, and thus affects disease-related mortality rates and quality of life for these women.”