Protecting cancer survivors from financial discrimination throughout the EU: A cross-European perspective

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the High-Level Conference on Ending Financial Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors held on the 15th of February 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. Organised under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the European Council and led by the European Initiative on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, the focus was the "right to be forgotten" (RTBF), which seeks to prevent financial discrimination against former cancer patients by ensuring their medical history is not considered by insurers and lenders 5 years after the end of treatment and without recurrence of the disease. Through detailed discussions and poignant testimonies, the conference shed light on the profound impact of financial discrimination on cancer survivors' lives and the moral and legal imperatives to address it. The article concludes with recommendations for advancing RTBF legislation at both national and European levels, emphasising the importance of political will, medical research, and strong advocacy from the cancer community.