Francesco De Lorenzo elected President of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) which brings together more than 470 associations in Europe
Francesco De Lorenzo elected President of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) which brings together more than 470 associations in Europe
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The European Cancer Patient Coalition is pleased to announce that Francesco De Lorenzo has been elected, for the three-year period 2022-2025, as President of the European Cancer Patient Coalition (www.ecpc.org ), the European umbrella organization, which includes over 470 cancer patient associations operating in the 27 EU countries and beyond. “Science with and for society – states De Lorenzo – together with Policy, represent the most important pillars for patient outcomes, in which ECPC will be involved in the next three years. Cancer research in Europe must closely align with the needs of patients, making them co-creators of their own health, as established by the recommendations of the Mission on Cancer to provide answers to their needs, from prevention to therapeutic treatments, from rehabilitation to quality of life, up to the return to normal life of the people cured by cancer and up to living with cancer if their condition so requires. These goals could be reached with the direct participation of patient associations in research projects, as stated in the Document shared by the Council of Research Ministers: Principles of Successful Patient Involvement in Cancer Research ”. Together with De Lorenzo were elected to the board: Jana Pelouchova (Diagnoza CL, Czech Republic) – Vice President), George Kapetanakis (Hellenic Cancer Federation ELLOK, Greece) Secretary, Evgenia Dimitrova Aleksandrova (Association of Cancer Patients – APOZ, Bulgaria) – Treasurer, Maria Begona Barragan Garcia (Spanish Group of Cancer Patients – Gepac, Spain), Alin Bujan (Federatia Asociatiilor Bolnavilor de Cancer – Fabc, Romania), Jacob Landsmann Hansen (Foreningen for Oplysning Om komplementær Kræftbehandling i Danmark – FOOKiD, Denmark). “The commitment to cancer policy – states De Lorenzo – will be in line with the Mission on Cancer and with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, in order to achieve a survival rate of 75% by 2035, through extraordinary financial, regulatory and legislative interventions by the European Commission and the Member States. Particular attention will be paid to overcoming the socio-economic inequalities between and within the Member States, with particular regard to overcoming the barriers that prevent people cured of cancer from accessing return to work and financial services. For ECPC the main tool to reach these objectves is the “Challenge Cancer Intergroup”, the first Parliamentary Intergroup on cancer voted by the European Parliament, composed by 37 MEPs and the ECPC Secretariat, with the aim of bridging the gap between European institutions, national governments, social representatives as well as patient and citizen associations to reduce the growing burden of cancer in the European Union ”. The new Board will use the lessons learnt from the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to reassess the cancer patient needs from cancer policy and research, through surveys, focus groups and workshops and to propose policy recommendations for cancer diagnosis and care in preparedness for a future health crisis. Moreover, the new Board will consult with its members in every EU member state and in the UK to learn more about how the pandemic has affected their operation and their services, as well as how they can contribute to ECPC cancer policy and research activities. Finally, the new Board, together with the ECPC Secretariat and ECPC experts will work on the reformation of our structural work in order to tackle the increasing challenges on cancer care and survivorship and provide valuable guidance and tools to our national members to formulate their national strategies on Cancer Care. |
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Also elected was the ECPC Audit Committee which sees Roberto Persio (Italian Association of Laryngectomees – Ailar, Italy) as Chair and Maria Theodoridou (ΕΥ ΖΩ – Living Well with Cancer, Greece) and Vasile Ianovici (Federatia Asociatiilor Bolnavilor de Cancer Country,Romania), as members. Past ECPC President Kathi Apostolidis (President of the Hellenic Cancer Coalition-ELLOK, Greece) will chair the Scientific Committee of the European Cancer Patient Coalition. About the European Cancer Patient Coalition European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) is the voice of cancer patients in Europe. With over 470 members, ECPC is Europe’s largest umbrella cancer patients’ association, covering all 27 EU member states and many other European and non-European countries. ECPC represents patients affected by all types of cancers, from the rarest to the most common. Notes to editors: |