EuroHealthNet responds to consultation on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

Every year, 3.5 million people in the EU are diagnosed with cancer, and 1.3 million die from it. Over 40% of cancer cases are preventable. Without reversing current trends, it could become the leading cause of death in the EU. European Commission has launched a public consultation on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, aimed to reduce the cancer burden for patients, their families and health systems. It will address cancer related inequalities between and within Member States with actions to support, coordinate and complement Member States’ efforts.

EuroHealthNet has contributed to the consultation by strongly focusing on health equity dimension of preventing cancers by addressing risk factors, early diagnosis and treatment, quality of life, and social reintegration post-disease. While welcoming the prevention pillar of the Plan, we cautioned against a downstream “lifestyle drift” for disease prevention approaches and shifting the burden on individuals, without integration of the “cause of the causes” – the structural and underlying causes of ill health and disease.

Find the consultation response here. 

Read our statement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan: time to revisit three key challenges.