Declaration of the European Parliament on the need for a comprehensive strategy to control cancer
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, in accordance with the Treaties, the Community is called upon to play an active role in the field of health, whilst complying with the principle of subsidiarity,
B. whereas cancer remains the leading cause of death in Europe,
C. whereas today we know that one-third of all cancers are preventable and that one-third can be detected early, thus leading to successful treatment,
1. Believes that if cancer is addressed by means of a comprehensive strategy it will soon no longer be the leading cause of death in Europe;
2. Calls on the Council and the Commission to formulate a comprehensive strategy addressing the four basic cancer control factors:
a)
prevention;
b)
early detection;
c)
diagnosis, treatment and follow-up;
d)
palliative care;
3. Calls on the Commission to review the relevant Community legislation and measures, upgrading and modifying them in keeping with new scientific advances;
4. Calls on the Commission to:
–
encourage research and innovation in the area of primary prevention and early detection of cancer;
–
promote relevant information campaigns for the general public and for all healthcare providers;
–
ensure that Community legislation contains incentives for industry and researchers alike in order to secure ongoing research and guarantee new generations of medicines and new treatments to combat and control cancer;
–
secure through networks the dissemination of best practices in order to ensure that citizens have access to the best available treatment;
5. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council and the Commission: