Athens, 6 October 2021

Joint Meeting of European Affairs and Social Affairs Committees on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan

A discussion on the Commission Communication on the EU Beating Cancer Plan was held at a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs and Social Affairs, with the Alternate Minister of Health, Mina Gaga, as the keynote speaker.

The meeting’s Chair, 1st Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament and Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs Nikitas Kaklamanis, pointed out in his introductory comments that the fight against cancer has always been a European Commission key priority in the field of health, yet this plan was disturbed by the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, with overwhelming effects on the treatment of other diseases. This fact calls for immediate action to address the side effects of the pandemic, he stressed.

The European Commission's Beating Cancer Plan, presented in February, aims to support action extending across the disease spectrum, from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment and life quality for cancer patients. It envisages an overall approach to cancer treatment, by utilising a wide range of financial resources and via the involvement of various sectors that affect or are affected by the disease, while taking into account the reduction of inequalities and the alleviation of the financial burden in its treatment.

It is important, Mr. Kaklamanis stressed, to work towards upgrading transnational cooperation and synergies, both in the field of prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment, but also research and staff specialization. Finally, as Mr. Kaklamanis stated, in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the discussion for strengthening EU competencies in the field of health has been launched, with the aim of strengthening health systems as a whole, reducing inequalities both at the level of Member States, but also at patient level within countries. The development of synergies will yield benefits such as, for example, joint bargaining for uniform prices and sufficient stocks of anti-cancer drugs.

The Alternate Minister of Health noted in her speech that cancer is the second leading cause of death in Europe, following cardiovascular diseases and that, sadly, Greece records many deaths from cancer, while a percentage of 40% could have been avoided via early prevention. Ms. Gaga said that the European plan to fight cancer aims to ensure cancer patients’ life quality, and presented in detail the Greek national programme areas of action, especially emphasising the importance of prevention.

She described the many ways for project financing, while emphasising NSRF utilization possibilities. Finally, she said that digitisation in the field of health has already begun; digital patient file set-up is under way, which will enable the digital interconnection of primary and secondary health care, also providing unobstructed access to health services, thus reducing inequalities recorded both at European and national levels.

Then the floor was given to the MEP Maria Spyraki, also member of the European Parliament Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), as well as to the rapporteurs of the parties, Konstantinos Maravegias, Andreas Xanthos, Andreas Poulas, Georgios Lamproulis, Maria Athanassiou and Maria Ambatzidi.

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