At the 41st Annual European Association of Urology Congress (EAU26), held in London, United Kingdom, from 13–16 March 2026, WONCA Europe reinforced its commitment to integrated, patient-centered care through its active participation in the BCLEAR project sessions.
The event brought together clinicians, primary care representatives, researchers, and patient advocates to address a critical gap in oncology: moving from the theoretical importance of Shared Decision-Making (SDM) to its consistent application in clinical practice across Europe.
Primary Care at the Heart of the Conversation
Representing the essential voice of family medicine, Dr. Josep Maria Vilaseca, former WONCA Europe Treasurer, took part as the official WONCA Europe representative. His presence during the congress underscored the vital role that GP/family physicians play in the bladder cancer care pathway—from early symptom recognition and referral to long-term survivorship and coordinated decision-making.
During the session, “BCLEAR: Shared Decisions, Stronger Care in Bladder Cancer – Addressing Clinician Needs Across Europe,” the panel discussed findings from the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition’s Global Survey. With data from 1,200 patients across 45 countries, the results revealed significant gaps in how treatment options and their potential impacts are communicated, highlighting an urgent need for clearer, more open dialogue.
"The collaboration between primary care, specialist urological societies, and patient associations is paramount. By strengthening health literacy and providing GPs with the right tools, we ensure that patients are not just informed, but empowered to make decisions that align with their life goals." — Dr. Josep Maria Vilaseca
Key Discussion Pillars
The sessions in London identified several priorities for the European medical community:
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Bridging the Implementation Gap: Addressing why SDM is widely supported in principle but often lacks consistency in everyday clinical settings.
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Overcoming Barriers: Identifying solutions for limited consultation time and the current lack of structured decision-support tools for primary care.
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Health Literacy as a Catalyst: Recognizing that many patients struggle to navigate care pathways or understand their diagnosis due to a lack of accessible information.
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Practical Training: Developing resources through the BCLEAR project to help healthcare professionals facilitate more effective informed consent and choice.
About the BCLEAR Project
BCLEAR (Bladder Cancer Literacy for All) is a three-year initiative co-funded by the European Union through the EU4Health programme. Managed by a diverse multidisciplinary consortium, the project is coordinated by the European Association of Urology (EAU) and brings together the following partners:
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WONCA Europe (Primary Care/Family Medicine)
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World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC)
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Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
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Erasmus University Medical Center (EMC)
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Hellenic Urological Association (HUA)
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Hungarian Urological Society (HUS)
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Polish Urological Association (PTU)
By fostering collaboration between specialists, researchers, and primary care providers, BCLEAR aims to reduce disparities in health literacy and ensure that every patient in Europe receives high-quality, patient-centered care.
For more information on the BCLEAR project, please visit the official webpage at https://patients.uroweb.org/bclear. For updates on WONCA Europe’s ongoing work in oncology within primary care, please visit our News section.