Rare Cancers Act 2026

The Rare Cancers Act 2026 establishes a dedicated national framework for diagnosing, treating, and researching cancers that affect fewer than 1 in 40,000 people annually in the UK. The bill creates funding mechanisms for specialist centres, requires NHS trusts to meet diagnostic standards within 12 weeks, and mandates research programmes into rare cancer biology. It also establishes a patient registry to track outcomes and improve treatment pathways for conditions that currently receive limited medical attention.