European Cancer Patient Coalition

The challenge of access to medicines is of crucial importance to millions of Europeans affected by cancer every year. Whilst no one country is immune to access issues, some regions and countries in Europe face greater difficulties than others. Several factors have an impact on access to medicines, from regulatory standards to funding systems and the varying nature of healthcare systems across Europe – all adding to inequalities across Europe. The European Parliament adopted a report, on its own initiative, on the ‘Options for Improving Access to Medicines’ – presenting an opportunity for the European Parliament to take a proactive stance on the issue of access to medicines. It makes several calls for action aimed at EU and Member State institutions to address the most urgent challenges when it comes to access to medicines, stressing the added value of European cooperation.