Cancer Patients’ Rights
Providing every European citizen with the right to the optimum standard of care.
Why it matters
Europe provides some of the best cancer care in the world, yet significant differences in cancer incidence and mortality are evident across Europe, and also within countries. The situation reflects inequalities in access to optimal high-quality cancer treatment and care, as well as public information about cancer, survivorship support and integrated cancer research and innovation. With the launch of the European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights on World Cancer Day in 2014, cancer patients and a wider oncology community came together with the hope that it will empower European citizens to demand the best quality cancer care no matter where in Europe they reside.
- The right of every European citizen to receive accurate information and be involved in their own care.
- The right of every European citizen to access specialised cancer care underpinned by research and innovation.
- The right of every European citizen to cost-effective health systems that ensure optimum cancer outcomes.
What ECPC adds
The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights was born out of partnership with oncology leaders, healthcare professionals and cancer patients, acknowledging the challenges European citizens encounter when faced with the diagnosis of cancer. In partnership with the European Cancer Concord, ECPC launched the European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights in the European Parliament in 2014 as a catalyst for change and an empowerment tool for cancer patients across Europe. The Bill of Rights underpins equitable access to an optimal standard of care for European citizens and encourages engagement from all European citizens to demand these rights as an essential requirement. ECPC continues the promotion of cancer patients’ rights across Europe, which underpins our work. The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights was awarded the prestigious 2018 European Health Award at the European Health Forum Gastein.
Downloads
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (EN) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (FR) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (DE) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (IT) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (NL) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (PL) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (GR) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (RO) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (FI) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (HR) - (PDF)
- The European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (SL) - (PDF)
- Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights for Appropriate and Prompt Nutritional Support - (PDF)