INT Certifications

The IRCCS Foundation National Cancer Institute (INT) was certified by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) as a "Comprehensive Cancer Center" in February 2015. OECI is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 1979 to promote greater cooperation among European cancer care centers and institutes. The certification is valid for five years and commits the Institute to maintaining and improving the quality standards already achieved, meeting the stringent requirements in the areas of care and assistance, scientific research and innovation, prevention, and academic training.

Among the strengths of INT, OECI auditors highlighted:

Management, characterized by a strong network for information exchange and communication

The Foundation’s role in the Lombardy Oncology Network (ROL) and its related projects

Basic, clinical, and translational research programs integrated into patient care

Development opportunities recognized in pilot projects and improvement initiatives

INT has a Quality Management System certified under ISO 9001:2015. The first ISO 9001 certification for INT dates back to 2002, covering the diagnostic laboratories of Pathological Anatomy, Laboratory Medicine, and the Transfusion Service. In 2005, the certification was extended to the Directorates and Departments, culminating in 2013 with the departmental services of the Department of Applied Research and Technological Development. Since 2017, INT has certified the processes for purchasing and logistics, tenders, maintenance, clinical analysis diagnostics, immunotransfusion and pathology, diagnostic and interventional radiology, quality and patient safety management, the design and delivery of training events, workplace safety, research support laboratories, biobanking, genetic analysis and consultancy, and Phase I clinical trials.

The Quality activities aim to promote the monitoring and improvement of the healthcare services provided by the hospital, adopting both proactive and reactive analysis techniques.

Through a shared process, the renewal and maintenance of the UNI EN ISO 9001 certification is guaranteed year after year, particularly with:

Multidisciplinary working groups

Continuous training, education, and information for staff

Management of system documentation

Internal audit program (approximately 50 per year)

Monitoring of Non-Conformities and indicators

Development and coordination of improvement plans

In 2018, INT also received the highest recognition, with three pink stickers, as a "woman-friendly" hospital awarded by the National Observatory on Women's Health (O.N.Da). The pink stickers are the recognition awarded by Onda since 2007 to Italian hospitals that are "close to women," monitoring and rewarding hospitals that offer services dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major female health issues, with particular attention to the specific needs of women (www.bollinirosa.it
). In this context, INT received an honorable mention "for achieving the highest rating of proximity to women's health for 8 consecutive years from 2007 to 2015."

The blue sticker is awarded to hospitals that demonstrate special attention to uro-andrological health, and it is an achievement that reflects our constant commitment to providing high-quality services and medical innovation.