Although CAR T-cell therapy has been available in Austria since 2019, access remained limited, with only a small proportion of eligible patients receiving treatment by 2021. Identified barriers included restrictive patient selection criteria, suboptimal referral pathways, and limitations in funding and infrastructure.¹⁴⁰

To address these challenges, a national policy initiative was launched by stakeholders from clinical, academic, and policy communities. The group conducted multi-stakeholder roundtable discussions, which brought together clinicians, payors, and policymakers to discuss systemic barriers to access and propose actionable reforms.

The discussions resulted in the publication of a report with recommendations aimed at improving access to CAR T-cell therapy in Austria.¹⁴⁰ These included strengthening communication between referring and CAR T centers, setting up a CAR T-cell therapy registry and coordinating funding decisions through an independent national supervisory board.¹⁴⁰

These proposals informed broader policy discussions and were cited in key forums including presentations at the EHA and ASH congresses and the annual meeting of the Austrian Hematology and Oncology Association (ÖCHO). As a result of these collaborative efforts, increased uptake of CAR T-cell therapy has been reported.