Parliament has looked at cancer in Europe and is proposing ways to improve prevention, treatment and research.
Over the last 18 months, the European Parliament’s special committee on beating cancer has listened to national law makers, international organisations and experts on the latest cancer developments and insights. Based on their knowledge and experience on the ground, MEPs believe a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach at European level could reduce inequalities among countries and improve the lives of cancer patients and survivors.
The committee’s report and recommendations are set to be adopted by Parliament next week. Here is how the committee wants the EU to strengthen its role to fight cancer:
Tackling risk factors to fight cancer
- Fund programmes to help people quit smoking and dissuade new smokers
- Evaluate health risks related to electronic cigarettes
- Ban alcohol sponsorship of sport
- Improve information about carcinogens
- Encourage and help consumers to choose healthy food
Improving health care
- Create common cancer screening protocols
- Extend joint procurement procedures to counter medicine shortages and high prices for innovative technologies
- Ensure that medicines resulting from publicly funded research are available at affordable prices
- Facilitate access to cross-border health care and clinical trials
- Invest in more infrastructure for radiation therapy
Investing more in research
- Increase funds for research on the causes of cancer and new products and treatments
- Boost research into paediatric and rare cancers
- Constant training for health professionals
