European Bill On Cancer Care Launched By Queen's Professor

A European Bill of Rights on cancer care is being launched today by Queen’s University Belfast’s cancer specialist Professor Patrick Johnston.

Professor Johnston has been working over the past two years alongside some of the world’s leading cancer experts and patient groups to launch the European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights.

It is being launched today, on World Cancer Day, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

It is the result of two years of work by the European Cancer Concord and Co-Chaired by Professor Johnston. It aims to address the disparities that currently exist in cancer care from one European country to the next.

Professor Johnston said: "In Northern Ireland we have seen the difference that a Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Programme can have on patient outcomes. Previously Northern Ireland was sitting at the bottom of the UK table for cancer survival rates and thanks to pioneering work at Queen’s, in association with the Health Service, we’re now close to the top. This Bill of Rights aims to set a standard that all European countries can aspire to, ensuring that all citizens are entitled to the optimum cancer care regardless of where in Europe they live."

Professor Mark Lawler, also of Queen’s University Belfast and the ECC Project Lead on this initiative, said: "Currently three people succumb to this deadly disease every minute throughout Europe. With an ageing population, that number will increase to one person dying every ten seconds from cancer in just 25 years. We have to act now to reduce this frightening statistic. It is critical that today, on World Cancer Day, we insist that it is the right of every European citizen to receive an optimal level of care."

The Bill of Rights is underpinned by three principles: the right of every European citizen to receive accurate information and be involved in their own care; the right of every European citizen to access specialised cancer care underpinned by research and innovation; and the right of every European citizen to cost-effective health systems that ensure optimum cancer outcomes.

Recent studies have shown that cancer survival varies according to country. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia have the lowest survival rates in Europe.

Nordic countries with the exception of Denmark, central European countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Netherlands, and some countries in southern Europe have the best survival rates in Europe for most cancers.

Ian Banks, Chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee of the European Cancer Organisation and President of the European Men’s Health Forum said: "We already have a number of MEPs from across Europe supporting this initiative and we expect even more will sign up in Strasbourg to ensure that the Bill of Rights is a standard to which all European countries adhere to. With support for the mandate, we aim to look and see how new approaches can be developed that will really make the difference to the cancer patient."

(IT/CD)