Skip to content

Epidaurus · Treatment Guide · Therapeutic Interventions

Going abroad for —

Oncologic Surgery Quality

Cancer surgery quality and specialization across organ systems

The country comparison

Which countries are best for oncologic surgery quality

The destinations ranked high→low under this lens — each with the reasoning behind its score, the cited evidence one click down, and its full report. The verdict is free; the report is the depth.

19 / 19 Countries ranked

Researched and assessed by the Epidaurus editorial pipeline against our published scale. A country below the rule is not yet assessed enough — never ranked last.

  1. 1 United States US 5.0/5 Good The United States meets or exceeds all Score 5 criteria for oncologic surgery quality. The country operates 73 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers including 58 Comprehensive Cancer Centers with ~1,500 Commission on Cancer-a... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 10 cited points
    • 73 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers including 58 Comprehensive Cancer Centers distributed across 37 states
    • Approximately 1,500 Commission on Cancer-accredited programs treating 73% of US cancer patients
    • Over 150 Surgical/Gynecological Oncologists performing Cytoreductive Surgery + HIPEC with high-volume centers performing 60+ procedures annually
    • Memorial Sloan Kettering performs more than 16,000 surgical cases annually with rigorous ACGME-accredited fellowship training
    • Over 5,500 da Vinci robotic systems installed representing world's largest deployment; 75%+ of lung cancer resections performed minimally invasively
    • Superior outcome metrics: 4% mortality at high-volume centers versus 12% at low-volume centers for pancreatic surgery; 90-day postoperative mortality of 2.3% at high-volume rectal cancer centers
    • All US fellowship programs ACGME-accredited with 85%+ of graduates obtaining full-time academic positions
    • Comprehensive multidisciplinary integration with tumor boards and integrated surgical-medical oncology teams
    • Free 24-hour interpretation services in any language at major centers; dedicated international patient centers coordinating all aspects of care
    • Extensive published outcomes data with participation in international research collaborations and clinical trials

    Read the full United States report →

  2. 2 Israel IL 5.0/5 Good Israel operates eight comprehensive cancer centers with five holding ESMO Designated Centre accreditation and multiple Newsweek global rankings, including Sheba Medical Center at #7 worldwide. Annual cancer surgery vo... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Eight comprehensive cancer centers with five ESMO Designated Centre accreditations; Sheba Medical Center ranked #7 globally (Newsweek 2026) with 40,000 cancer patients annually
    • Fellowship-trained surgical oncologists across hepatobiliary, urologic, gynecologic, head/neck, thoracic, and pediatric oncology; Israeli surgeons train internationally at MSK and MD Anderson
    • Annual cancer surgery volumes: Sheba 40,000 patients/year; Ichilov 34,000 operations/year; Soroka 18,000+ cancer patients/year; Rambam 7,000+ new cancer patients/year
    • Documented outcomes: 85–95% success rates for early-stage liver tumor resection; 80%+ pediatric cancer cure rates (Rambam); 80%+ sustained remission/cure at Ichilov; published outcomes in peer-reviewed journals
    • Extensive advanced technology: Da Vinci Xi robotic systems at six major centers; six HIPEC centers nationally (171 procedures in 2017); 3D surgical modeling for head/neck reconstruction; MRI-guided LINAC; intraoperative imaging

    Read the full Israel report →

  3. 3 Singapore SG 5.0/5 Good Singapore operates multiple world-class comprehensive cancer centers (NCCS ranked 6th Asia Pacific, NCIS, KKH, Parkway, Head and Neck Centre) with over 130 fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons across 13 subspecialtie... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • NCCS ranked 6th among Asia Pacific oncology hospitals by Newsweek 2025 and holds JCI accreditation since 2010 as the only national cancer centre in the region with this distinction
    • 130+ surgeons across 13 oncologic subspecialties at NCCS alone, with formal international fellowship training program and coverage of all major cancer types
    • ~400 major HPB surgeries annually with over 4,000 major liver surgeries and nearly 2,000 major pancreatic surgeries since 2000; 1,000th minimally invasive liver resection milestone in 2023
    • Excellent surgical outcomes: 99% five-year survival for localized breast cancer; >98% five-year survival for prostate cancer stages 1–3; zero CRS/HIPEC mortality (335 cases) with 44.8% five-year overall survival for peritoneal malignancies
    • Extensive robotic and advanced surgical capabilities: Da Vinci systems since 2003 (20+ years experience), hinotori™ platform introduced 2024, transoral robotic surgery, PIPAC, isolated limb perfusion, and Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre (Southeast Asia's first public facility opened June 2023)
    • Comprehensive international medical tourism infrastructure: ranked second globally as medical tourism destination with 500,000+ international patients annually; OncoCare and Parkway provide 24-hour multilingual consultations, concierge services, and cross-border follow-up care coordination

    Read the full Singapore report →

  4. 4 Germany DE 4.5/5 Good Germany operates Europe's most comprehensive and quality-assured oncologic surgery system, with 2,159 certified cancer centers, 6 NCT sites, and 6 OECI Full Member institutions, demonstrating exceptional infrastructur... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • 2,159 DKG/OnkoZert certified cancer centers with mandatory multidisciplinary tumor boards; 6 NCT sites and 6 OECI Full Members; Cancer Core Europe membership at NCT Heidelberg
    • Annual surgical volumes exceed Score 5 threshold: 60,000 colorectal resections, 12,067 lung cancer resections (2018), 21,850+ radical prostatectomies, 7,390+ radical cystectomies
    • R0 resection rates: colorectal 91% (exceeds >85% threshold), pancreatic 76% (falls in Score 4 range), liver 77% (falls in Score 4 range)
    • 180+ da Vinci robotic systems with 30%+ robotic prostatectomy adoption; HIPEC Munich Protocol at LMU Munich; TORS at 21.4% of university hospitals
    • Transparent quality reporting through StuDoQ registries and 15 state cancer registries; competitive CONCORD-2 outcomes (prostate 91.2%, breast 85.3%, colon 64.6% 5-year survival)
    • 52,000+ international cancer patients annually with dedicated international patient offices, multilingual staff, and comprehensive care coordination at all major centers

    Read the full Germany report →

  5. 5 Spain ES 4.5/5 Good Spain operates five OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centers plus 11 additional OECI specialized centers with hundreds of fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons serving 286,664 annual incident cancer cases. Documented R0 rese... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • Five OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centers (ICO, Vall d'Hebron, CCUN, Jiménez Díaz, Clínic Barcelona) with 11 additional OECI specialized centers; total 16 OECI member institutions
    • 286,664 new cancer cases diagnosed annually sustaining massive surgical volumes; REGECOP records 4,159 CRS/HIPEC procedures across 36 hospitals
    • Documented outcome metrics: REGECOP 81.7% complete cytoreduction (2.1% perioperative mortality), head and neck 80% negative margin adherence, breast cancer 5-year survival 87.3%
    • Hundreds of fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons with subspecialty coverage (hepatobiliary, CRS/HIPEC, thoracic, urological, gynecological, head/neck, pediatric); Fundació Puigvert performs 200+ robotic procedures annually
    • 105 da Vinci robotic systems (5th in Europe), HIPEC at 36 hospitals; HM CIOCC operates da Vinci SP, Xi, and HUGO RAS systems
    • Quirónsalud achieved JCI Enterprise Accreditation (first hospital chain globally); HM Hospitales served 35,000+ international patients from 164 nationalities in 2024; €18,000–€35,000 pricing substantially below US/UK
    • Red flags: geographic concentration in Madrid and Barcelona, heterogeneous outcome reporting across centers, robotic hysterectomy volumes below European recommendations (approximately 8.9 procedures/center/year vs. ≥15 guideline), pancreatic surgery morbidity thresholds higher than international norms (73% vs. 55%)

    Read the full Spain report →

  6. 6 United Kingdom GB 4.5/5 Good The United Kingdom demonstrates exceptional oncologic surgery infrastructure with three OECI-accredited Comprehensive Cancer Centres, world-class national outcome monitoring through NATCAN (ten concurrent cancer audit... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • Three OECI-accredited Comprehensive Cancer Centres (Christie, Cambridge, King's Health Partners) plus ESMO/ESGO-designated centers with international recognition
    • Over 90% robotic-assisted prostatectomy adoption with 13% year-on-year surgical volume increases; 58,218 prostate diagnoses in 2024 with radical surgery performed at high rates
    • NATCAN operates ten national cancer audits with quarterly provider-level performance indicators published from October 2024, representing one of the most comprehensive national cancer surgery outcome monitoring systems globally
    • Annual major cancer surgery volumes exceed 50,000 cases (36,886 lung cancer diagnoses with increasing surgical resection; 17,650 oesophagogastric radical surgeries; Cambridge alone performs ~100 pancreatic and ~150 liver resections annually)
    • Comprehensive subspecialty coverage: five NHS highly specialised bone sarcoma centres, seventeen soft tissue sarcoma centres, 21 principal paediatric cancer treatment centres, four ovarian cancer centres of excellence, two national HIPEC centres
    • Strong medical tourism infrastructure through London Clinic (140+ countries, multilingual services), Royal Marsden private care, and Cleveland Clinic London; private patients bypass NHS waiting-time constraints

    Read the full United Kingdom report →

  7. 7 Brazil BR 4.5/5 Good Brazil's private-sector oncologic surgery capabilities substantially exceed Score 4 thresholds and approach Score 5, with multiple internationally accredited comprehensive cancer centers (Hospital Israelita Albert Ein... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Four world-class private cancer centers with international accreditation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (JCI continuously since 1999, 7 consecutive certifications), Hospital Sírio-Libanês (ASCO QOPI + 14 certifications), Hospital de Amor Barretos (ESMO Designated Centre), A.C. Camargo Cancer Center (12 integrated disease centers)
    • Approximately 1,800 SBCO (Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology) members with ~200 formal training positions since specialty recognition in 2017
    • High surgical volumes: 56+ hospitals performing >999 cancer surgeries annually; 313,531 colorectal surgeries over 10 years; 43 liver resection centers; 12+ HIPEC centers
    • Excellent outcome metrics: liver resection mortality 1–3% at major centers; colorectal in-hospital mortality 5.2–6.7% nationally; gastric cancer OS improved at high-complexity centers (24.4 vs. 18 months)
    • Extensive advanced technology: 106 da Vinci robotic systems, HIPEC standardized and available at 12+ centers, VATS established at major centers, RARP incorporated into public SUS in 2025

    Read the full Brazil report →

  8. 8 Japan JP 4.5/5 Good Japan operates 453 designated cancer care hospitals with sophisticated multidisciplinary infrastructure, over 280 board-certified oncologic surgeons per specialty (esophageal, gastric, HPB, gynecologic), and registere... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 8 cited points
    • 453 Ministry of Health-designated cancer care hospitals (DCCHs) including flagship institutions (NCC Hospital, NCC Hospital East, Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR, Shizuoka Cancer Center) far exceeding the 5+ requirement
    • 280+ board-certified esophageal surgeons, plus specialty certification systems for gastric (JGCA), hepatobiliary-pancreatic (JSHBPS), and gynecologic oncology (JSGO/JGOG with 1,046 active members), indicating 50+ fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons across all major cancer types
    • 895,606 gastrointestinal/abdominal and 220,741 breast surgical procedures registered in National Clinical Database 2023, vastly exceeding 10,000+ annual case threshold
    • Pancreatic cancer R0 resection rates 49-63% and HPB/esophageal outcomes generally in 65-85% range; highest gastric cancer 5-year survival 71.1%; falls short of >85% benchmark for major cancer types
    • 350+ da Vinci robotic systems installed with National Health Insurance coverage for prostate, gastric, esophageal, rectal, colon, and endometrial cancer surgeries; da Vinci SP approved for colorectal 2023; domestic hinotori robotic system entering clinical use
    • ESMO accreditation at 2 centers (NCC Hospital East, Chiba Cancer Center); JMIP accreditation at 69 institutions; CAP laboratory accreditation; Newsweek World's Best Specialized Hospitals in Oncology 2024-2025
    • National Clinical Database covering ≥95% of all board-certified surgical operations with published outcome data in international journals and CONCORD-3 survival benchmarking
    • Comprehensive international patient services at National Cancer Center Hospital and Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR with dedicated international teams, interpretation, and care coordination

    Read the full Japan report →

  9. 9 South Korea KR 4.5/5 Good South Korea demonstrates exceptional oncologic surgery quality, ranking among the world's top 5 cancer hospitals globally with multiple comprehensive centers performing over 10,000 annual cancer surgeries. The country... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Asan Medical Center ranked among world's top 5 cancer hospitals by Newsweek 2025; Samsung Seoul Hospital ranked 6th globally and 1st in Asia
    • 72.9% five-year relative survival rate (2018-2022); stomach cancer survival 77%, compared to 32.4% in US and 21.6% in UK
    • 51 da Vinci robotic surgical systems across 40 institutions; over 15,000 robotic surgeries performed in first decade; 10,000 robotic thyroid surgeries at single institution
    • Multiple comprehensive cancer centers with dedicated oncologic surgery departments including Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, and National Cancer Center Hospital
    • 11,226 international cancer patients in 2019 with dedicated medical tourism infrastructure, 40-70% cost savings versus US/UK/Germany, and multidisciplinary system serving ~5,000 patients annually

    Read the full South Korea report →

  10. 10 Jordan JO 4.0/5 Good Jordan's oncologic surgery capabilities are concentrated in the King Hussein Cancer Center, which operates 5,000+ major cancer surgeries annually with comprehensive subspecialty programs and holds multiple internation... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • King Hussein Cancer Center performs 5,000+ major cancer surgeries annually with dedicated fellowships in surgical oncology, thoracic, gynecologic, and neurosurgical oncology accredited by Jordanian Medical Council, Arab Board, and European Society of Oncological Surgery [Training Programs - King Hussein Cancer Center - 2024]
    • Published outcomes: breast cancer Stage I 96% 5-year overall survival, Stage II 91.3%; colorectal cancer 58.2% 5-year survival (exceeding regional comparators); CNS tumors median overall survival 97 months across 2,094 patients [Breast Cancer Care in Jordan - PMC/JCO - 2020; Colorectal Cancer in Jordan - PMC - 2017; CNS Tumors - PMC - 2025]
    • Multiple international accreditations: JCI cancer-specific certification (first outside US), OECI membership, CAP laboratory accreditation, Magnet nursing recognition (top 8% globally), AAHRPP research accreditation [King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center - Wikipedia - 2024]
    • Advanced surgical technology: da Vinci robotic surgery system (Jordan's only), NanoKnife irreversible electroporation (first in region), intraoperative MRI Brain Suite, HIPEC/cytoreductive surgery program [Our Features - King Hussein Cancer Center - 2024]
    • Comprehensive international patient infrastructure: dedicated International Patients Office with visa facilitation, airport medical coordination, multi-language translation (English, French, Kurdish), accommodation assistance; treatment costs 25-40% below Western Europe/US [Additional Services for Arab and International Patients - KHCC - 2024; Why Jordan Is Medical Tourism Hotspot - Travel and Tour World - 2026]

    Read the full Jordan report →

  11. 11 Colombia CO 4.0/5 Good Colombia operates 6+ JCI-accredited cancer centers with competitive international outcomes—NSCLC R0 resection of 87.7% at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, breast-conserving surgery 5-year overall survival of 95.4%, and a... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • 6 JCI-accredited hospitals across Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga; INC is first Latin American OECI associate member
    • NSCLC R0 resection 87.7% at Fundación Santa Fe; breast-conserving surgery 95.4% 5-year overall survival (12.7% margin positivity vs 21.6% US)
    • Fundación Santa Fe HIPEC program: JCI-certified, 1,000+ cases, 80% ten-year overall survival, <1% procedural mortality
    • Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe hepatobiliary team: 3 surgeons, 550+ hepatectomies, 450+ pancreatectomies; 5 da Vinci robotic systems in use since 2012
    • 70% of oncology services concentrated in 3 regions; only 9.8% of colon cancer patients nationally reach high-volume hospitals

    Read the full Colombia report →

  12. 12 India IN 4.0/5 Good India demonstrates strong oncologic surgery capabilities at multiple premier institutions with world-class infrastructure, experienced surgeons, advanced robotic technology, and comprehensive multidisciplinary care. H... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • Tata Memorial Centre umbrella includes 10+ cancer institutes; HCG operates 21 comprehensive cancer centers with standardized protocols; multiple other major centers (Apollo, Fortis, Max, SSO, Nanavati, Kokilaben, Manipal)
    • AIIMS trained 150+ cancer surgeons over 25 years; MCh Surgical Oncology programs with 6 annual intake at AIIMS; Fellowship programs across 25 renowned centers for specialized oncology
    • AIIMS performs 2,000 major cancer surgeries annually; ACTREC performed 1,514 major surgeries in 2018 across all specialties; National Cancer Grid treats 750,000 new cancer patients annually across 244 centers
    • Premier institution outcomes: 94.1% five-year overall survival for breast cancer, <5% 30-day mortality for esophageal/rectal/pancreatic cancers, 85-92% survival for early-stage prostate cancer
    • Extensive robotic surgery: Manipal Hospital 3,000+ robotic cancer surgeries, Kokilaben 630+ with da Vinci Xi, robotic capabilities for colorectal, endometrial, gastric cancers across multiple centers
    • Comprehensive medical tourism infrastructure with 600,000+ international patients annually; services include online consultation, tumor board before arrival, translators, visa assistance, follow-up coordination; cancer treatment costs 60-80% less than Western countries
    • However, national-level outcomes significantly lag: only 30% five-year survival nationally vs. 60% in North America/Western Europe; HIPEC complications 7.29% 30-day mortality vs. 0-12% at experienced centers; no OECI or equivalent cancer-specific international accreditation mentioned

    Read the full India report →

  13. 13 Mexico MX 4.0/5 Good Mexico demonstrates good oncologic surgery capabilities with several established comprehensive cancer centers including INCan (ESMO-accredited), ABC Medical Center, and Médica Sur providing high-quality care. The coun... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 8 cited points
    • INCan is ESMO-accredited comprehensive cancer center treating 5,000+ new patients annually with 172 dedicated oncology beds
    • Approximately 250 surgical oncology residents trained yearly at INCan in formal fellowship programs (exceeds 20+ threshold for Score 4)
    • Da Vinci robotic surgical systems available at multiple leading hospitals including Médica Sur, ABC Medical Center, and Ángeles hospital chain
    • 90.4% five-year overall survival for breast cancer at Hospital de Oncología IMSS, comparable to developed countries
    • 5.5% postoperative mortality for complex pancreatic (Whipple) procedures, comparable to high-volume referral centers
    • JCI accreditation at 9 hospitals in Mexico including Médica Sur since 2014, and partnership with Mayo Clinic Care Network
    • Well-developed medical tourism infrastructure with coordination services, 1.2+ million annual medical tourists, and 45-75% cost savings
    • Significant quality variability and healthcare system fragmentation documented as major limitation affecting outcomes consistency

    Read the full Mexico report →

  14. 14 Poland PL 4.0/5 Good Poland has established oncologic surgery infrastructure with 2 OECI-accredited major cancer centers and a 16-hospital national network. The surgeon workforce of 300+ robotic-trained specialists and annual surgical vol... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • 2 OECI-accredited cancer centers (MSCNRIO full member, Greater Poland Cancer Centre associate) plus 16 regional oncology network hospitals
    • 300+ robotic-trained surgeons across subspecialties (200+ urologists, ~60 colorectal, ~30 gynecologic); ESO Clinical Training Centre at MSCNRIO
    • Annual volumes: Greater Poland ~7,000 surgeries/year; 10,110 robotic cancer procedures in 2023
    • Laparoscopic liver R0 resection rate 89.6%, perioperative mortality 0.8%; lung cancer 5-year survival 56% at academic centers
    • 80 hospitals with surgical robots nationally; proton therapy at Greater Poland Cancer Centre; multidisciplinary tumor boards following ESMO guidelines; 40%+ international patient composition at private centers

    Read the full Poland report →

  15. 15 Thailand TH 4.0/5 Good Thailand achieves a Score 4 (Good) rating for oncologic surgery quality. Bangkok's major centers demonstrate excellent infrastructure with ESMO and JCI accreditations, extensive robotic capabilities at ≥5 centers, pub... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
    • Six or more major dedicated oncologic surgery centers including two ESMO-designated Centres (Wattanosoth 2025–2027, Chulabhorn 2021–2027 renewal)
    • Da Vinci robotic surgical platforms at ≥5 centers with 2,500+ documented robotic cases at Siriraj over 12 years; advanced procedures including HIPEC, TORS, VATS, and MR-LINAC available
    • Colorectal cancer 5-year overall survival 76.3% (colon) and 65.1% (rectal) at Siriraj—comparable to international benchmarks per published literature
    • Fellowship-trained surgeons documented including Memorial Sloan Kettering and Singapore-trained physicians; Bumrungrad robotic team includes 12 cancer specialists across multiple subspecialties
    • Comprehensive medical tourism infrastructure: multilingual support, care coordination, 3.5 million medical tourists in 2024, 60–70% cost savings versus Western pricing
    • Strong international partnerships with MD Anderson Cancer Center and National Cancer Center Japan; multidisciplinary tumor boards standard at leading centers

    Read the full Thailand report →

  16. 16 Turkey TR 4.0/5 Good Turkey operates multiple comprehensive cancer centers with established oncologic surgery programs, including Anadolu Medical Center (OECI-accredited) and 50+ JCI-accredited hospitals, demonstrating commitment to inter... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 7 cited points
    • Anadolu Medical Center achieved OECI accreditation in 2018, meeting 97% of European Cancer Association requirements as only OECI-accredited center in Turkey and surrounding region
    • Turkey has 50+ JCI-accredited hospitals, the largest number among developing nations, with multiple specializing in oncology
    • At least 8 hospitals equipped with da Vinci robotic surgical systems since 2007 for minimally invasive cancer procedures
    • R0 resection rates documented at 78% for recurrent colorectal cancer, 75% for breast cancer, with D2 gastrectomy mortality of 3.3% in experienced centers
    • Multidisciplinary tumor board approaches standard at major cancer centers (Anadolu, Memorial, Medipol); approximately 1 in 3 Turkish cancer doctors trained in Europe or USA
    • Exceptional medical tourism infrastructure with 1.5 million international patients annually, dedicated international patient departments, multilingual staff, and 40-70% cost savings compared to USA/Western Europe
    • However, surgical oncology not formally established as distinct subspecialty certification; geographic concentration of expertise in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir; and lack of systematic public outcome reporting across all facilities and cancer types

    Read the full Turkey report →

  17. 17 Malaysia MY 3.5/5 Moderate Malaysia demonstrates Score 4-level infrastructure with 10+ major cancer centers (Sunway with ESMO designation, SJMC with four ACHS CoE certifications, IKN, UMMC, and six other JCI-accredited hospitals), 20+ fellowshi... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • 10+ major cancer centers with international accreditations: Sunway (ESMO Designated Centre 2025–2027, Newsweek ranked 26th Asia-Pacific oncology), SJMC (first Asia-Pacific hospital with four ACHS CoE certifications, 2025), Prince Court (JCI since 2009, serves 140+ countries), IKN, UMMC, Gleneagles, Pantai, KPJ, Island Hospital, Mahkota.
    • 20+ fellowship-trained surgical oncologists documented across HPB (UMMC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Koh Peng Soon, Dr. Lee Yeong Sing; UKM fellowship), urologic oncology (Sunway Dr. Murali Sundram, Dr. Tan Guan Hee; UMMC), gynaecologic oncology (Sunway, IKN), colorectal/peritoneal oncology (Pantai Dr. Navinakathiresu—ESPSO Italy fellowship), and head/neck surgery (IKN, UMMC, Gleneagles).
    • Only concrete published R0 resection rate: 58% for cholangiocarcinoma at UMMC (1997–2007 cohort, n=12 resected), below the 75–85% threshold for Score 4; no national surgical audit or current procedure-specific R0 data publicly available; colorectal cancer stage-specific 5-year survival at one tertiary hospital 67.9% (stage I+II) vs. national 18.4% (heavily influenced by 65.1% Stage 3–4 presentation rate).
    • 12,000–15,000 estimated annual major cancer surgical procedures (based on ~33,764 new cancers/year and registry-documented 35–40% surgical utilization); Sunway robotic program alone logged 2,200+ cases over 7 years (all-specialty including oncology).
    • Advanced surgical technology at multiple centers: Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery at 5+ hospitals; HIPEC available at Pantai KL and Gleneagles Penang (private sector) and public sector since February 2018; INTRABEAM intraoperative radiotherapy (Sunway); Gamma Knife (Gleneagles KL, 450+ cases since 2014); Varian TrueBeam STx, Radixact X9 Tomotherapy; no published data on dedicated hybrid ORs for cancer surgery.

    Read the full Malaysia report →

  18. 18 Hungary HU 3.5/5 Moderate Hungary demonstrates solid oncologic surgery infrastructure centered on the OECI-accredited National Institute of Oncology, a network of regional university centers, and rapidly expanding robotic surgical capabilities... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 10 cited points
    • OECI-accredited National Institute of Oncology (Budapest) — only OECI center in Hungary and Central/Eastern Europe; operates 347 beds, treats 16,000 new cancer patients/year
    • Network includes 4 regional university-based cancer centers (Debrecen, Pécs, Szeged, Szombathely) plus 19 county-level centers across Hungary
    • Rapidly expanding robotic surgery program: da Vinci systems at 4 institutions; Semmelweis performed 450 robot-assisted oncological procedures in 2023/24
    • IASIOS-accredited Semmelweis Onco-Interventional Department (first in Hungary/CEE) treating ~3,000 interventional oncology cases/year
    • HIPEC program at Semmelweis with prospective research on 85 patients demonstrating improved survival outcomes for peritoneal metastases
    • National Molecular Tumor Board (established 2019) provides nationwide multidisciplinary genetic profiling review accessible to all oncology centers
    • Critical gap: R0 resection rates and perioperative mortality data not systematically published — no institutional outcome transparency
    • Population-level outcomes significantly below EU average: Hungary has highest cancer mortality in EU (148.1/100,000), including worst mortality for lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic cancers
    • Surgical volumes appear 5,000–10,000 major cancer cases/year combined across major centers (lower end of Score 4 range)
    • Specific counts of fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons not publicly reported, limiting assessment of specialist workforce

    Read the full Hungary report →

  19. 19 United Arab Emirates AE 3.5/5 Moderate The UAE has excellent oncologic surgery infrastructure and technology at flagship centers (Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Burjeel Medical City, American Hospital Dubai), with extensive robotic capabilities, multidiscipli... Full report
    The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
    • Four comprehensive cancer centers with advanced oncologic surgery (Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Burjeel Medical City, American Hospital Dubai, Tawam Hospital) plus Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and Mediclinic City Hospital; but only 4 fellowship-trained surgical oncologists explicitly documented despite many surgeons lacking formal training
    • Robotic surgical volumes of 1,800+ cumulative cases at American Hospital Dubai (≈500/year), 400+ at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in 2024, and 470+ at Burjeel Medical City; total major cancer surgery volumes not reported; well below Score 4 requirement of 5,000–10,000 annually
    • Advanced technology including Da Vinci Xi and Da Vinci 5 robotic platforms, 1.5T intraoperative MRI (first in region), HIPEC, PIPAC, and histotripsy; pioneering procedures including first robotic cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC and first robotic mastectomy in UAE
    • Burjeel Medical City holds ESMO accreditation (first and only in UAE), plus JCI, CARF, CAP, ISO 9001:2015; American Hospital Dubai is SRC-designated Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery; Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi holds JCI, Magnet, ACGME, CAP; but outcomes data remain unpublished
    • No national R0 resection rates, perioperative mortality, or comparative 5-year survival data publicly available; only scattered individual hospital outcome reports (e.g., Burjeel 88% OS for pediatric ALL); financial conflicts of interest documented as barrier to surgical oncology referrals in private sector

    Read the full United Arab Emirates report →

Reading the field

What separates a good programme from a dangerous one

Every country above is graded against this published scale — the same 1–5 rubric for oncologic surgery quality, top to bottom. How we score →

  1. 5/5 Excellent

    Multiple comprehensive cancer centers (5+) with dedicated oncologic surgery departments; 50+ fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons across subspecialties; annual major cancer surgery volumes >10,000 cases; R0 resection rates >85% for major cancer types; extensive robotic and advanced surgical capabilities; OECI or equivalent accreditation at multiple centers; internationally recognized outcomes data; comprehensive services for medical tourists including care coordination; participation in international oncologic surgery research; subspecialty programs in all major cancer types.

  2. 4/5 Good

    Several established cancer centers (3-5) with oncologic surgery programs; 20+ fellowship-trained oncologic surgeons; annual major cancer surgery volumes 5,000-10,000 cases; R0 resection rates 75-85%; good robotic and advanced technology availability; some international accreditation; published outcomes data; organized medical tourism programs for cancer surgery; most major cancer subspecialties represented; multidisciplinary care coordination.

  3. 3/5 Moderate

    Some cancer centers (2-3) with dedicated oncologic surgery; 10+ trained oncologic surgeons; annual volumes 2,000-5,000 major cancer surgeries; R0 resection rates 65-75%; limited advanced technology; basic quality reporting; some international patient services; coverage of common cancer types; variable multidisciplinary integration; emerging reputation in specific oncologic procedures.

  4. 2/5 Poor

    Limited cancer surgery capabilities (1-2 centers); <10 specialized oncologic surgeons; annual volumes <2,000 major cases; R0 resection rates <65%; minimal advanced technology; poor quality data availability; limited international patient infrastructure; restricted to basic oncologic procedures; inadequate subspecialty coverage; poor integration of care.

  5. 1/5 Very Poor / Unavailable

    No specialized cancer surgery programs; general surgeons performing cancer procedures without oncologic training; very low surgical volumes; no quality reporting; no advanced technology; no international patient services; limited to emergency procedures only; no multidisciplinary care; outcomes significantly below international standards.

The reports

The full country reports under this lens

Each destination we have assessed has a full, cited report — the detailed analysis behind its score. The verdict is free; the report is the depth.

Clinics & providers

The clinics our research names

Named hospitals, clinics and centres cited across these findings — each carrying the specialties our reports record. Follow one to the reports behind it.

References

The sources behind these assessments

The distinct sources cited across these published reports — every finding carries its own citations; this is the union, each linking back to the reports that lean on it.

  1. Untitled source www.kmhglobal.com/national-cancer-center Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in South Korea
  2. Untitled source www.snuh.org/global/en/about/EN05006003.do Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in South Korea
  3. Untitled source abm.gov.pl/en/polish-clinical-trials-network/about-the-network/members/202,Lower-Silesian-Oncology-Center-in-Wroclaw.html Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in Poland
  4. Untitled source academic.oup.com/jjco/article/56/Supplement_1/i34/8529751 Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in Japan
  5. Untitled source actrec.gov.in/departments/surgical-oncology Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  6. Untitled source aiims.edu/index.php/en/surgical-oncology Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  7. Untitled source aiims.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14149&Itemid=623&lang=hi Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  8. Untitled source ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.20.00122 Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  9. Untitled source ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2008.21.7018 Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  10. Untitled source ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.23.00250 Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  11. Untitled source ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.17.00152 Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  12. Untitled source asianhospital.in/medical-tourism-in-india-a-complete-guide-for-international-patients Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  13. Untitled source bestclinicabroad.com/en/clinics/mexico/oncology Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in Mexico
  14. Untitled source cancer.severance.healthcare/cancer-en/about/overview.do Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in South Korea
  15. Untitled source cancercenters.cancer.gov Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  16. Untitled source cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/bulletin/online-first/blt.24.292230.pdf Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  17. Untitled source centromedicoabc.com/en/surgery-center/robot-surgery-center Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in Mexico
  18. Untitled source cinj.org/education/complex-general-surgical-oncology-fellowship Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  19. Untitled source clinicsoncall.com/en/blog/is-turkey-the-right-choice-for-your-cancer-treatment-heres-what-you-should-know Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in Turkey
  20. Untitled source college.mayo.edu/academics/residencies-and-fellowships/complex-general-surgical-oncology-fellowship-minnesota Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  21. Untitled source crgc-cancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Life-in-a-CoC-Accredited-Facility-in-2024-Slides.pdf Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United States
  22. Untitled source crukcambridgecentre.org.uk/news/comprehensive-cancer-centre-designation Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in United Kingdom
  23. Untitled source drsandeepnayak.com/blogs/combining-cytoreductive-surgery-with-hipec-treatment Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India
  24. Untitled source drsandeepnayak.com/services/hipec-treatment-in-bangalore Cited in Oncologic Surgery Quality in India

Explore the source archive →

In plain language

Start exploring the knowledge base

The field's shorthand our reports use, sized by how often it comes up. Follow any term to its full entry and the reports that use it.

For readers weighing this decision

Ways to read the evidence

The verdict is always free. A membership opens the full analysis and every cited source — this specialty, the whole library, or everything for good.

  • One specialty · annual

    Therapeutic Interventions

    $49.00 / year

    $49.00/year

    Every report in this specialty — full analysis and every cited source — as each is published.

    Take this specialty

  • Full library · annual

    The whole library

    $199.00 / year

    $199.00/year

    The complete evidence behind every finding in every specialty, while your decision is live.

    Take the full library
  • Most readers

    Lifetime · one payment

    Everything, for good

    $499.00 once

    $499.00 (one-time)

    Every finding we publish today and hereafter — no renewal, no expiry. The tier we point most readers to.

    Take lifetime access

Prefer to pay per report? A single report is $29.00, yours to keep — browse the reports. The verdict is always free.

Where to go from here · Oncologic Surgery Quality

no scope is a dead end — step up to the specialty, drill into a factor, or pivot across to a country or a comparison