Childers welcomes ambitious EU cancer screeing targets

Posted by Andy White on February 23, 2010 at 04:41 PM

Nessa Childers MEP has welcomed ambitious plans being developed by the European Union to achieve 100% screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer by 2013.

The target is contained in a draft report by the Environment, Public Health & Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament. The Labour MEP for Leinster contributed to the development of the report which is entitled the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer.

Nessa Childers explained, “The report, which will be voted on the by the Parliament in May aims for all Member States to have integrated cancer plans by the end of 2013, which should result in a 15% reduction in cancer cases by 2020. On current trends this would result in a reduction of 510,000 cases across the 27 Member States, including Ireland.

“One of the most significant targets contained in the report is to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer by achieving 100% coverage in terms of screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer by 2015 by providing 125 million examinations to EU citizens per year.

“As it stands, the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney plans to initially commence free screening for the 60-69 age group in 2012 with an expansion of the programme planned but only if resources permit. Clearly there is a significant gulf emerging between the EU’s ambition and the Irish government’s plans in regard to screening for colorectal cancer which claims 1,000 lives a year in this country alone. This whole area needs to be tackled much more comprehensively and Ireland needs to take inspiration from Europe’s leadership.

Nessa Childers added, “Cancer represents the second most important cause of death and morbidity in Europe. Currently one in three people in the EU will be diagnosed with cancer during their life-time and experts predict that the cancer burden will increase sharply due to the ageing population, unless urgent action to improve cancer control is taken now.

“Cancer represents the second most important cause of death and morbidity in Europe. Currently one in three people in the EU will be diagnosed with cancer during their life-time and experts predict that the cancer burden will increase sharply due to the ageing population, unless urgent action to improve cancer control is taken now.”

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