Dear ECPC Members,

April has been an eventful month for our fight against cancer.

First there was the ECPC Cancer Patient Summit that brought the announcement
from the new Health Commissioner, Mrs Androula Vassiliou, that in 2009 the
Commission would publish a new Action Plan against Cancer.

Then on 10 April the European Parliament adopted with an overwhelming majority
a Resolution on “Combating cancer in the enlarged European Union” and this was followed
by the EU Health Ministers meeting on 17/18 April when ministers agreed on the
need for an overall strategy and action plan to reduce the burden of cancer.
"In order to successfully manage cancer, it is necessary to design an overall
strategy and an action plan encompassing all the relevant elements: prevention
of disease, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care,
as well as research. Without a comprehensive approach, the disease cannot be
successfully managed," pointed out the presiding Slovenian Minister of Health,
Zofija Mazej Kukovic.

It is good news for cancer patients, their friends and carers that all three
institutions: Commission, Parliament and Council of Health Ministers are
agreed that reducing the burden of cancer is a priority for the EU and its
27 Member States. We can now look forward to the adoption of a
Council Conclusion on cancer in June which will be signed by all national Health Ministers.

For more information:
ECPC Press Release on the Cancer Resolution
ECPC Press Release on Cancer Patient Summit
Slovenian Presidency Press Release "Overall strategy needed for successful cancer management"

We have demonstrated that by working together we can move the political agenda,
however there is still much work ahead to turn policy into actions that save lives.