Abstract
There is an urgent need for solutions to the economic and social inequalities in cancer care that still exist in many European countries. Patient preferences, ‘big data’, mobile digital technology and molecular and genomic profiling are among the innovative research topics that connect cancer patients to comprehensive cancer centres, and link translational research to cancer diagnosis, treatment and care. The question is whether Europe can deliver the complex infrastructure needed for universal coverage and equitable access to cancer care. The European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), the leading ‘umbrella’ cancer patient organisation in Europe, has a central role in bringing the unmet needs of patients with cancer to the forefront of cancer policy, care and research. The ECPC is a respected and reliable partner in the oncology community and has effectively collaborated with institutional stakeholders and organisations, as well as with the European Commission, on cancer research projects and in the development of tools to advance health care and cancer policies at the European and national level. The ECPC believes that innovation cannot emerge and grow without patient involvement and is fully committed to increasing patient education and contribution in cancer research through its active participation in various European cancer research programmes and educational resources. The ECPC is expected to play a major role in the mission on cancer, given its previous achievements in policy and research to help overcome the inequalities in cancer prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and survivorship care. The mission on cancer will be facilitated by active collaboration between patient organisations and scientists, clinicians, politicians and industry, with the aim of identifying important research questions regarding quality of life and social issues for cancer patients of all ages.
Highlights
Europe has played an important role in cancer control
Cancer patients have a growing role in bridging the gap between cancer research, cancer care centres and survivorship and will play an important role moving forward in patients’ and society’s ultimate goals: cure and care for cancer patients. Despite successes such as the increasing role of patients in research and the crucial role the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) has had in integrating disparities in cancer care, survivorship care and research in the deliverables of the Joint Action Cancer Control (CanCon), there is still work to be done before true patient centricity will be achieved in Europe
Central to achieving this goal is ensuring that patients and patient organisations are genuinely involved in the decision-making processes, which can be achieved by formalising their participation in professional bodies that develop cancer policy recommendations at national and European levels
Summary
Europe has played an important role in cancer control. Over the past 30 years, the European Union (EU) has worked alongside its Member States and various stakeholders to control the disease through adequate cancer research and cancer policy. CanCon Guide, a comprehensive, patient-centric document and a vital tool for governments and policymakers to improve cancer care, is the main deliverable of CanCon that represents an important example of European collaboration in cancer control This is because each of the cooperating 17 EU Member States and their respective Ministries of Health were directly involved in developing the final recommendations and policies in collaboration with several other stakeholders. The ECPC has worked with a significant number of oncology and cancer care stakeholders to build a broad consensus on issues important to European cancer patients These partnerships continue to effectively foster a European community of like-minded cancer experts. EP ENVI Committee adopts compromise amendments on the European Commission’s proposal on HTA
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