The HSE National Cancer Control Programme develops national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Regimens to support safe, evidence-based and cost-effective cancer treatment for all Irish cancer patients. These regimens are developed under the guidance of Medical Consultants involved in the treatment of patients with cancer with input from nursing staff, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. These regimens underpin the National Cancer Information System (NCIS) and include specific indications for specific drugs. They do not direct care in the same manner as clinical practice guidelines.
The regimen development process is separate to the standard HSE reimbursement process. The reimbursement status is included on the regimens for user convenience but this is not the primary intended purpose of the regimens. Details on the cancer drugs approved for reimbursement are available here.
Clinicians using these national SACT regimens to provide treatment for patients will be solely responsible for verifying the doses, providing the prescriptions and administering the medications described in the regimens, according to acceptable standards of care. Use of these regimens is the responsibility of the treating clinician and is subject to the HSE’s Website Disclaimer.
Treatment recommendations are based on a variety of information and factors, they should be guided by patient performance status, disease extent, rate of progression and potential sensitivity to treatment. Each treatment regimen has advantages and disadvantages, and there may be more than one good option. In addition, treatment choices can change over time as more evidence becomes available.
The format and content of the regimens are reviewed and updated on a periodic basis. The date of last revision of each regimen is included at the end of the regimen and on the website. The list of regimens contained on the website is not comprehensive; additional regimens will be added to this site over time. Please email any comments or feedback on these regimens to oncologydrugs@cancercontrol.ie.
In addition, providers of systemic chemotherapy services may submit regimens for consideration for inclusion as NCCP approved regimens which will be available for national use on the NCCP website by completing the NCCP National SACT Regimen Request form available here and submitting it to oncologydrugs@cancercontrol.ie
Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines (OAM) regimens are available below
Supportive Care Regimens
NCCP Classification Document for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Antiemetic Medicines for inclusion in NCIS (Medical Oncology)
Current regimens for the following tumour groups, oral anti-cancer medicines and paediatrics are available in the links below:
Regimen Information Summaries
A summary of current NCCP regimens classified according to drug is available at the link below:
Regimens by Drug
This summary document will be updated at a minimum quarterly, but may be done more frequently as required. The date of last update is included on the summary.
The NCCP would like to acknowledge the benefit gained from the chemotherapy regimen models and templates utilised by international agencies such as BCCA and eviQ. View the list of clinicians and contributors who have worked in the NCCP team and supported the development and review of NCCP National SACT regimens and associated guidelines.
Please email any comments or feedback to oncologydrugs@cancercontrol.ie
To cite an NCCP National SACT Regimen
Title, Year, version number (if applicable), description of document (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location details or just the main site details>
e.g. cycloPHOSphamide (IV) Methotrexate and 5-Fluorouracil (CMF) 21 Day Therapy, 2016, version number 5b, NCCP National SACT Regimen, NCCP, viewed 08/02/2024, https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/profinfo/chemoprotocols/breast/381.pdf
Last Updated 27/03/2024
