The European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA) welcomes the prevention pillar of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, published on 3rd February 2021, that places prevention at the heart of the EU’s fight against cancer and other chronic diseases.

ECDA supports the targets and measures set out in the plan, which are expected to significantly help to improve the health of all EU citizens. Goals for a tobacco-free generation, and commitment to action in the areas of food and alcohol labelling are much required. Together they have the potential to unlock enormous progress in Europe’s agenda of disease prevention and should be implemented swiftly.

Cancer and co-morbidities present a significant challenge across Europe. In 2020, 2.7 million EU citizens were diagnosed with cancer and 1.3 million died from it, accounting for the second cause of death in the EU after cardiovascular diseases.

In a statement published today on the occasion of the World Cancer Day, the Alliance particularly emphasizes the importance of:

• Prevention: a crucial pillar that can have a far-reaching impact
• Harnessing the benefits of early detection and diagnosis
• Systemizing multidisciplinary and integrated care for better health outcomes
• Supporting an improved quality of life for patients and their families

It is ECDA’s view that the plan in its current form is a strong basis to successfully improve the prevention and control of cancer and other chronic diseases in Europe.

While the plan is focused on the response to cancer, ECDA encourages the European Commission and policymakers to keep an inclusive mindset in the implementation and roll out of the plan, in order to maximise its benefits and impact in other disease areas. This will be particularly crucial for all proposed actions and initiatives that are linked to or have consequences on cancer co-morbidities – in all sections of the plan.

ECDA remains committed to supporting the implementation of the plan – in particular the prevention pillar – in cooperation with other stakeholders; and re-emphasizes that it will be important to monitor and track the implementation of the flagship initiatives and supportive actions set out in it.

Read the full statement of the ECDA here.