This article analyzes the availability of different diagnostic procedures of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the reimbursement landscape of drugs for NSCLC in countries of central and southeastern Europe (CEE). A survey was conducted by the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group. Results of the survey show that both availability and reimbursement of diagnoses of molecular alterations in NSCLC, the detection of which is essential for therapeutic decisions, varies widely between countries of CEE. Not only is "reflex" testing often substituted by analyses performed only "on demand," but reimbursement of such assessments varies widely between unavailability and payments by the health care system or even pharmaceutical companies. It was concluded that a structured access to testing and reimbursement should be the aim in order to provide patients with appropriate therapeutic options. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This article provides an overview of the limitations in lung cancer treatment in countries of central and southeastern Europe, as well as the reimbursement status of various lung cancer treatment regimens in these countries, which directly impacts treatment options.

Central European Cooperative Oncology Group Vienna Austria

Comprehensive Cancer Center and Vienna Cancer Center Medical University of Vienna General Hospital Vienna Austria

Department of Medicine 1 Division of Oncology Medical University of Vienna General Hospital Vienna Austria

Department of Pathology Comenius University Jessenius Medical Faculty University Hospital Martin Slovakia

Department of Pathology Institute of Oncology Warsaw Poland

Department of Pathology Military Medical Academy Sofia Bulgaria

Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina Sremska Kamenica Serbia

Institute of Pathology Medical University of Graz Graz Austria

Institute of Pathology University of Zagreb School of Medicine and Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb Croatia

National Institute of Oncology Budapest Hungary

Prof Dr Ion Chiricuta Institute of Oncology Cluj Napoca Romania

The Fingerland Department of Pathology Charles University Medical Faculty and University Hospital Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

University Clinic Golnik Golnik Slovenia

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