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News from Brussels
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
On February 4th, the World Cancer Day, the European Commission presented Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The Cancer Plan consists of four key action areas: prevention through actions addressing key risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, environmental pollution and hazardous substances; early detection of cancer by improving access, quality and diagnostics; diagnosis and treatment through actions to ensure better integrated and comprehensive cancer care; improving the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors, including rehabilitation, potential tumour recurrence and re-integration in the workplace. The key goals of this plan include ensuring that less than 5% of the population uses tobacco by 2040, ensuring that 90% of the EU population who qualify for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings are offered screening by 2025, and 90% of eligible patients should have access to National Comprehensive Cancer Centres linked through a new EU Network. Each year EPSA carries out the “Purple Week” Public Health Campaign that focuses on increasing cancer awareness and educates on the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.
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On 17th February, the European Commission proposed an immediate action to prepare Europe for the increased threat of coronavirus variants. The new European bio-defence preparedness plan against COVID-19 variants called “HERA Incubator” will work with researchers, biotech companies, manufacturers and public authorities in the EU and globally to detect new variants, provide incentives to develop new and adapted vaccines, speed up the approval process for these vaccines, and ensure scaling up of manufacturing capacities. The Commission is to launch the Vaccelerate COVID-19 clinical trial network that will bring together 16 EU Member States and five associated countries including Switzerland to exchange data and progressively include children and young adults as participants in clinical trials. The EU will also provide accelerated approval for the adapted COVID-19 vaccine using the annual influenza vaccine model.
