Adoption of AKEL proposals on fighting cancer in Report
AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou Press release
10 December 2021
Cancer is the second cause of death across Europe. 1.3 million of our fellow human beings lose the battle every year. Of these, 6,000 are children. However, 40% of cancer cases can be prevented and with early treatment cancer can be cured. That is precisely why the European Parliament decided to set up a special committee to fight cancer, BEating CAncer, which was charged with the task of evaluating EU action and with the responsibility to propose measures to help prevent and fight cancer.
Yesterday, after intense deliberations, the European Commission’s report, Beating Cancer, on strengthening Europe’s fight against cancer through a comprehensive and coordinated European strategy, was approved and voted through.
The report is very important as it puts forward concrete proposals to combat existing inequalities and ensure equal access to information, prevention, early diagnosis, treatments and medicines for cancer.
Particularly positive is the adoption of the proposals tabled by AKEL MEP G. Georgiou, as shadow Rapporteur, significantly strengthening the report.
In particular, the following proposals were added to the report with amendments submitted by AKEL MEP G.Georgiou:
- Strengthening of public health services (including budgetary aspects, infrastructures and aspects concerning health professionals) to accelerate the prevention, screening and diagnosis of cancer
- The creation of high-quality radiotherapy departments and modern oncology centres in public hospitals, based on European guidelines and in line with the latest scientific evidence
- Increase funding to member states to expand their radiotherapy infrastructures and ensure equal access to quality radiotherapy
- Develop a digital health system to ensure out-of-hospital cancer treatment and care
- Free access to treatments and medicines used by cancer patients through public health services and promote policies to ensure free access to medicines for users over 65 years of age, chronic patients and families facing financial difficulties
- Promote targeted screening for high-risk groups
- Develop multidisciplinary treatment teams to support cancer patients throughout their treatment course
- Provide psychosocial support to patients and their families.
- Enhancing patients’ quality of life
- Strengthening the right to cross-border care.
- Promoting the development of new pediatric cancer medicines.
- Increase funding for pediatric cancer and other rare form of cancers
The European Parliament Committee sent out a clear message on the need to safeguard the human right to health. However, political will is demanded from governments to translate the report into action.
Only then will health cease to be a privilege of the privileged few and be safeguarded as a public, social good.
