EU Parliamentary Intergrup Challenge Cancer hosted a public event “EU Joint Action on Rare Cancers (JARC) recommendations towards implementing the Rare Cancer Agenda 2030” on Wednesday 24^th February 2021. Following the launch of the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, the event was a timely opportunity to discuss the implementation of the Rare Cancer Agenda 2030 in the EU.

Having rare cancer is challenging due to difficult diagnosis and less treatment options available. Despite the rarity of each of the 198 identified rare cancers, collectively they represent 24% of all new cancer cases diagnosed in the European Union each year. Five-year relative survival is worse for rare cancers (47%) than for common cancers (65%), and differences in survival exist across European countries, therefore suggesting the existence of inequalities in healthcare.

In 2017, the EU created the European Reference Networks (ERNs) on several rare diseases including paediatric and adult rare cancers with aim to facilitate discussion on conditions requiring highly specialised treatment, and extensive knowledge and resources. The shortcoming of these ERNs is the lack of awareness among patients and, as a result, the lack of access to the benefits offered by these networks because access is strictly linked to hospitals. Mainly ERN’s implementation at national level and their accessibility for patients was the main objective of the debate.

“ERNs are a unique example of cooperation across EU on healthcare and also a model for any future similar attempt in other areas of healthcare in the future. After more than three years from their creation, ERNs should now be ready for next challenges and express fully their potential to the benefit of EU citizens,” said MEP Alessandra Moretti, Co-Chair of the Intergoup, and she declared her support in this matter: “We have the chance with the new EU’s Beating Cancer Plan to further develop ERNs in the field of health and particularly oncology with an objective on recognising them as central players in the fight against cancer.”

“Funding allocated to ERNs is exceedingly limited. Especially at a time of a pandemic, when cancer patients may suffer from difficulties to access normal health services, networking is vital. Networking always requires additional resources. The EU and the Member States should provide cancer institutions appointed to belong to ERNs with proper regular funding. In Eu for Health programme I recommended to increase financing for ERNs and we will also strengthen their prerogatives. A “Call to Action” will be sent by the Intergroup to the Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to implement selected Recommendations of the JARC Agenda 2030,” said the Chair of the Intergroup Cristian Busoi.

“We, cancer patients’ advocates, must address the barriers to an appropriate functioning of the ERNs and we must ensure that all EU rare cancer patients have access to the existing ERNs network and that ERNs have now financial support for the infrastructure,” explained Francesco de Lorenzo, President of  the Italian Federation of Cancer Patients Organisations (FAVO).

European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), the Secretariat of the Intergroup, has utmost interest to represent and empower cancer patients with all types of cancer, not excluding rare cancers. Therefore, ECPC established a Working Group on Rare Cancers to improve early, timely and correct diagnosis and to empower patients with information on rare cancers and how to get in touch with Contact Points at the national level.