Background
Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are fundamental for evidence-based cancer control, yet many continue to rely on fragmented data collection processes and standalone registry tools, limiting data quality, timeliness, and interoperability. In parallel, health systems in middle-income countries are undergoing rapid digital transformation, with increasing deployment of electronic health records and adoption of international interoperability standards. In Morocco, this transition creates a unique opportunity to modernize cancer registration and align it with national digital health strategies and global best practices.
Objectives
This study describes the development and deployment of a full-web cancer registry information system for the Population-Based Cancer Registry of Grand Casablanca (PBCRC). The objective is to demonstrate how a country-led digital strategy can strengthen registry performance, improve data quality and usability, and prepare PBCRs for advanced analytics and future regulatory requirements, while remaining complementary to global initiatives for cancer registration strengthening.
Methods
The PBCRC, established in 2005 and recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), implemented a full-web information system covering the entire cancer registration workflow, from decentralized data collection to validation, analysis, and dissemination. A collaborative, user-centric, and iterative development methodology was adopted, involving registrars and stakeholders through workshops, prototyping, testing, and continuous improvement. The system was designed to ensure interoperability, scalability, high availability, and security, with alignment to international classification and reporting standards (ICD-O, ICD-10). Interfaces with electronic health records and other national health information systems were incorporated to facilitate data exchange and reduce manual data entry.
Results
The full-web system addresses key limitations of traditional registry workflows, including double data entry, delayed reporting, limited ergonomics, and restricted interoperability. Core functionalities include role-based access control, automated patient deduplication, multiple tumor management, real-time validation checks, and dynamic dashboards for epidemiological analysis and reporting (Figure). The availability of structured, standardized, and interoperable data enhances data completeness, consistency, and timeliness. Furthermore, the system establishes a robust foundation for the progressive integration of artificial intelligence tools to support data quality improvement, pattern detection, and predictive analytics.
Conclusions / Implications
The deployment of a full-web, interoperable cancer registry information system represents a strategic national decision rather than a purely technical upgrade. It positions the PBCRC as an integral component of Morocco’s rapidly evolving digital health ecosystem and supports the production of timely, high-quality cancer indicators aligned with international standards. The future introduction of mandatory cancer case reporting would further strengthen registry completeness and enable the generation of advanced population-based indicators, including survival estimates. This experience demonstrates the feasibility and value of a country-led pathway to modern, scalable, and predictive cancer registration and provides transferable lessons for PBCRs in similar settings seeking to align cancer surveillance with national digital health strategies for the benefit of policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patients.

Example of Data Analysis Module