Stichting VUmc
VUmc
Stichting VUmc (VUmc) represents one of the 8 unique University Medical Centers in the Netherlands, where teaching, research and patient care are fully integrated in one organisation.
ID: 595312325722-47
Lobbying Activity
Response to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
1 Mar 2020
We welcome the EU Beating Cancer plan emphasizing the holistic, inclusive and patient-centred approach. We underline specific aspects in the chain of prevention to palliation, survivorship and social care.
1. As presented in the AURORA universities network statements on cancer (2019) we stress that the approach entails organizing health and care from a patient’s perspective. Hence patients, survivors and (informal) carers need to be involved via constant dialogue taking into account e.g. diversity, inclusiveness, age, culture and level of health literacy.
2. Reduce risk factors for cancer:
* implement strategies and policies for climate-neutral, smart and healthy mobility based on cross-disciplinary integrative research (i.e. behavioural, social, public health and technical);
* transform food systems in combination with achieving behavioural change particularly in consumption patterns, health and lifestyle;
* develop renewable energy for a “green” and better quality of food production and storage increasing nutrition security for a better health and reduction of related cancer risks.
3. While the roadmap has a strong focus on prevention and preventive measures, note that:
* the suggestion is that we can prevent 40% of the cancer incidence by changing our lifestyle. This puts the blame on people getting cancer, while lifestyle only increases the risk;
* not all oncological diseases are yet preventable e.g. due to inheritance or random genetic aberrations;
* for current patients prevention is not the solution: we need more integrated and personalised actions towards curing and caring.
4. Share research infrastructures and (digital) health databases, knowledge, expertise and experiences to obtain an effective multidisciplinary, intersectoral collaboration for personalised 24/7 healthcare in all member states. This includes investment in development of innovative, adequate and less invasive imaging techniques and specific and sensitive biomarkers combined with clinical and lifestyle data using (adaptive) artificial intelligence based on FAIR data, both structured as well as unstructured.
5. Pan-European clinical research is crucial for beating cancer including rare cancers, needing strong European networks performing RCTs with new designs, thus identifying the best treatment for patients.
6. Ensure standards of care and equal opportunities for jobs, accessibility, availability and affordability of healthcare throughout Europe. In addition, the right care needs to be provided to the right people at the right time and place. We tend to provide expensive therapies to patients for whom it is uncertain that they will benefit from the treatment. Hence, stratification and efficacy monitoring are essential.
7. Co-morbidities need to be addressed, treated, and prevented and their incidence reduced. Include current and novel types of psychological support of patients also during treatment and palliative care.
8. Provide coping training for patients, survivors and carers as well as attitudinal training and skilling addressing e.g. stigmatisation by and behavioural change of employers and colleagues.
9. Education of (para-)medical health care providers needs revision due to societal changes, shared decision making, multidisciplinary care approaches and outplacing patients from hospitals to local health care platforms. Shared European medical education goals dealing with such challenges will have a positive impact on sustainable health systems and patient care, and need embedding as a mainstream activity in (para-)medical education.
Prof.dr. Chris Polman. Chairman of the Board of Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra (legal partners VUmc and AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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