The ECPC Masterclasses were designed to highlight how patient organisations can make their voices heard: what ammunition is available for arguing their case, what guidelines and best practice are already in existence and what strategies have proved effective for building support at a public and political level. Previous ECPC Masterclasses were very popular, with more than 130 patient advocates attending each of them, sharing best practice in how groups can change the reality for patients in their countries: campaign for cancer plans, for improvement of access to information and treatment, and for securing basic patients rights and equal access to quality cancer care.

"ECPC Members in Action 2009" supported our ECPC Members in their advocacy work. About 110 participants heard about what Europe can do for them at the national level, what "Health Technology Assessment" and health economics means to patient groups, and what the "European Partnership on Action Against Cancer" that was recently established by the EU Commission will do. ECPC was also offering workshops e.g. on how to apply EU policy as a tool in the member states, on what the specific challenges of cancer at the workplace are, and on the "Code of Practice of patient groups working with the healthcare industry". A number of ECPC members shared their success stories and learnings from their campaigns. Also, the ECPC General Assembly was held at the conference.

See the detailed conference report here.

See the full Conference programme here.

See the Press Release: "ECPC Members in Action 2009: Cancer Patients remain united in their commitment to address the issues facing all European citizens affected by Cancer" (2 Nov 2009)

See the photo gallery of the event here.

PROGRAMME & PRESENTATIONS "MEMBERS IN ACTION 2009"

ECPC member organisations can download the presentations of the conference here. Please note the download requires to log into the website - the files are only available for registered ECPC members! If you are and ECPC Member and don't have an account yet, please register here and will approve your account as quickly as possible.

SESSION 1: JOINT EUROPEAN ACTION AGAINST CANCER

Cancer survival in Europe – data as tools for action
Prof Michel Coleman (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

Patients at the Centre: The European Partnership for Action against Cancer
Lynn Faulds Wood (ECPC President)

The European Code Against Cancer: what role for patient organizations?
Wendy Tse Yared (Director Associations of European Cancer Leagues ECL)

SESSION 2: HEALTH ECONOMICS AND DRUG PRICING

Access to new medicines
Dr Jesme Fox (Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation)

The dilemma for cancer patients – pricing and reimbursement, innovation and healthcare budgets
Sotiri Vandoros (London School of Economics and Political Science)

Examples for innovative approaches in HTA
Jude Watson (Myeloma UK)

Improving the impact of patient participation in Health Technology Assessment
Dr Karen Facey (Chair HTA International Interest Group)

SESSION 3: ECPC MARKETPLACE

Keynote: Childhood cancers - why we should be doing more for our children.
Jolanta Kwasniewska (Jolanta Kwasniewska's Foundation "Communication without barriers")

Patient’s Rights
Kathi Apostolidis, Greece

Risk Management in Multiple Myeloma therapies: Role of PAGs in the EU and NL
Lia van Ginneken, The Netherlands

Toolkits for Advocacy Planning
Simona Ene, Romania

Patient oriented after care trial (PONS-S)
Heide Preuss, Germany

The House of Life – a GIST support group
Kai Pilgermann, Germany

Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Louise Bayne, Ovacome, UK

Europa Uomo’s advocacy work
Tom Hudson, Ireland (Europa Uomo)

Cancer survivorship issues: the achievements of Italian volunteer-based organizations
Francesco de Lorenzo, Italy (FAVO)

Successful petition for access to cancer treatment
Sarunas Narbutas, Lithuania (OHLB «Kraujas»)

SESSION 4: EMPOWERING PATIENTS

Internet and Social Media in advocacy
Jan Geissler (ECPC Director)
Video: Sluksolariet (on youtube)

Financial consequences of cancer – models for our countries?
Neal Southwick (Macmillan Cancer Support)

WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOP 1: Codes of practice between patients’ organisations and the healthcare industry
David Haerry (EATG)
Download the Code of Practice here

WORKSHOP 2: EU Policy as a tool for cancer advocacy in our countries
Denis Horgan (ECPC Political Affairs Manager)
Download the ECPC EU Policy Handbook

WORKSHOP 3: Cancer and Employment
Prof Tezer Kutluk (President ECL & Turkish Association for Cancer Research and Control) & Wendy Tse Yared (Director ECL)
Download the ECL Questionnaire here, to be returned to ECL by 15 Dec 2009.

CLOSING SESSION

Cancer survival – implementing best practice across Europe
Alojz Peterle (MEP)