Macmillan Cancer Support has launched a curated digital health app library to help people living with cancer access independently assessed health apps to support them throughout their cancer care.
The Macmillan App Library brings together a range of digital health tools that have been independently evaluated by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA) for clinical safety, usability, privacy and security.
The charity said the initiative aims to give people with cancer more confidence in choosing digital tools to help manage their condition, find trusted information and access support beyond traditional clinical settings.
Dr Anthony Cunliffe, lead medical adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “People living with cancer are increasingly turning to apps to help them manage their health, find information, and feel less alone.
“What’s been missing is a reliable way to know which tools are actually safe and worth their time. This library gives people living with cancer exactly that: a trusted starting point, backed by independent assessment, so they can focus on what matters.”
The library has been designed around the needs of people living with cancer and includes apps covering different cancer types and stages of the care pathway, from diagnosis and treatment through to recovery and ongoing support.
Alongside cancer-specific tools, the platform also features apps designed to address wider wellbeing needs, including mental health, sleep, pain management and the practical challenges of living with a long-term condition.
Macmillan said the resource is intended to help people self-manage aspects of their health while providing access to digital products that have undergone independent quality assurance.
The launch comes as digital health technologies are increasingly being used to support patients outside traditional healthcare settings, while also responding to concerns about the quality, safety and reliability of the growing health app market.
Every product included in the library is independently reviewed by ORCHA against a range of quality criteria.
The assessments cover areas including clinical safety, data privacy, security and user experience, with products subject to ongoing reassessment as they evolve.
Liz Ashall-Payne, founder of ORCHA, said: “Digital health has enormous potential to support people living with cancer, but only when they can trust that the tools they’re using are safe and effective.
“We’re proud to work with Macmillan to put quality-assured digital health in the hands of people who need it.”
Macmillan and ORCHA said they intend to continue expanding the library and are inviting digital health companies with products relevant to oncology to apply for inclusion.
Eligible technologies will undergo ORCHA’s assessment process before being added to the platform, with reassessments carried out over time to ensure products continue to meet the required standards.
The organisations said the approach is intended to create a larger library of independently assessed digital health apps to support people affected by cancer throughout their care journey and increase the availability of quality-assured digital health technologies in cancer care.