"EU citizens deserve equitable and affordable access to high quality treatment and care against cancer. They and their family also need supportive care from the moment of diagnosis," MEP Therese Comodini Cachia said.
Speaking during a round table event on Lung Cancer in Europe organised by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in Brussels, Dr Comodini Cachia stated that it is important to review how palliative care is provided, for this to become supportive care provided to all patients from the moment of diagnosis, of the need for governments to work with NGOs providing this care and to ensure significant funding is available in this respect.
Noting that the number of female and young smokers was on the rise, Comodini Cachia called for further efforts in raising awareness among the public about the causes of lung cancer. She questioned the effectiveness of the current measures being taken such as that of compulsory labelled warnings on tobacco products, and called for intensified preventive action. Comodini Cachia also pointed out that prevention had to play a crucial role in the fight against cancer and emphasised the role of education and sport and physical activity as potential agents for cancer prevention.
Comodini Cachia who is an active member of the MEPs against cancer - a cross-party Parliamentary Interest Group on Cancer stated that “It is good to note that over 272 cancer research projects have been funded under Horizon 2020 with an investment of Euro 415 million including a number of projects targeting lung cancer. However, it is not just up to the EU to invest in research. Member States should start setting investment in research as a priority too.”
Referring to the ever-growing traffic congestion in Malta and other cities across Europe, Comodini Cachia asked how much member states were taking the issue seriously considering that emissions are considered as a major contributor of lung cancer.
In 2012 more than a quarter of a million (268,000) people died from lung cancer in the EU-28, just over one fifth (20.7) of all deaths from cancer. Statistics published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that lung cancer featured among the top 3 causes of death in Malta and this was on the rise.
Earlier this month PN leader Simon Busuttil pledged that a PN government would provide equitable cure for cancer to all those in need, provide medicine for free to the elderly, invest heavily in sports facilities and programmes to prevent health problems and promote a healthy lifestyle and invest in an alternative public transport system to reduce traffic congestions.