Statement by AKEL MEP, Giorgos Georgiou, before the Plenary of the European Parliament, on the development of a comprehensive European strategy to fight cancer.

 

15 February 2022

Speaking of cancer, the numbers are frightening. Every 9 seconds a new case of cancer is diagnosed.  No more excuses. Public health must be put over and above private profits. Injustices and inequalities with regards prevention, early diagnosis and the provision of quality patient care must be lifted.

I would like to welcome the adoption of our proposal for the strengthening of public hospitals and creation of radiotherapy departments and modern oncology centres in public hospitals. I must say, however, that we have had enough of words. We must put our money where our mouth is. The report is a very good instrument. However, we call on the Commission and governments to demonstrate the practical will to adopt it.

We have a great deal to do.  Today is International Childhood Cancer Day.  6,000 innocent souls are lost every year in Europe to the disease. That is precisely why we call on you to vote in favour of our proposal to strengthen cross-border care and cover the costs of families who take their child abroad for treatment, as well as the proposal to provide allowances equivalent to 100% of the salary of parents who stay at home to care for their child.

We call on you to adopt our proposal to increase funding in order to redress the injustices in the treatment of cancer and for the production of new medicines. Above all, however, we must show sensitivity, because people’s lives are a serious matter.