The EU needs renewed political commitment, funding and coordination to support the full implementation of the European Plan to Beat Cancer, MEPs say.
In a special resolution, the EP emphasizes that the next multi-annual EU budget should ensure continuity and predictable investment in key EU initiatives such as the European Plan to Beat Cancer. Therefore, the deputies call for the 2028-2034 In the long-term EU budget of 2018, create a specific EU health program, including support for long-term oncology infrastructure, such as vaccination and screening programs, workforce development and oncology data systems.
The EP wants the European Commission and EU countries to recognize health and oncology care as social investment objectives that can be achieved through national and regional partnership plans. Parliament also reiterates its call for fair, timely and affordable access to cancer medicines and innovative therapies across the EU. Voluntary joint procurement by Member States should be facilitated, price transparency should be promoted and life-saving cancer treatments should be brought to market faster.
MEPs also call for easier cross-border access to specialist cancer care and clinical trials, particularly for rare and complex cancers.
Likewise, the EU and member states must do more to protect cancer survivors across Europe from financial discrimination. Therefore, a coherent system should be created to guarantee cancer patients access to financial services, including mortgages, loans and insurance.
Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in the EU after cardiovascular disease. In the EU, approximately 2.7 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and approximately 1.27 million will die from it. Parliament’s Public Health Committee is currently preparing an implementation report to assess the progress of EU initiatives.
The publication was made in cooperation with the office of the European Parliament in Riga.
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