How the EU4Health Joint Action OriON has contributed to reducing disparities in cancer prevention and care

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, HaDEA interviewed Marjetka Jelenc, coordinator of the work of the EU4Health Joint Action OriON on National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCPs). Marjetka Jelenc is a medical doctor and PhD and she works as Public Health Specialist and Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia.

OriON is a recently concluded EU4Health Joint Action (JA) that has contributed to the European Cancer Inequalities Registry, with the aim of reducing measurable disparities in cancer prevention and care across the EU.

Why are you proud to work for this Joint Action (JA)?

Cancer inequalities are unacceptable in a European Health Union. We are proud that the results of JA OriON will help to reduce inequalities and help cancer patients and citizens.

Could you explain why addressing cancer inequalities is so important in the fight against cancer?

As highlighted in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), several indicators show major differences in cancer prevention and care between and within EU countries. These inequalities can be seen in access to prevention programmes, rates of early cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment, survival as well as measures to improve quality of life for cancer patients and survivors.

For example, mortality rates from colorectal cancer are substantially higher among men than among women. Differences in survivorship and access to care can be explained by gender differences, a combination of lower exposure to risk factors, different access to screening programmes and health services and different capacities to absorb the social and financial consequences of cancer.

Ongoing discrepancies can also be observed for women, older people, persons with disabilities and disadvantaged and marginalised groups, like people with a minority racial or ethnic background and people living in poverty. In a European Health Union that aims to protect everyone, these inequalities must be addressed and the EBCP underlines that there should be no first- and second-class cancer patients in Europe.

Could you explain OriON’s significance in the fight against cancer inequalities across the EU?

In the framework of OriON, we prepared policy recommendations on National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCPs) with a special focus on cancer inequalities. They are all meant to serve as an aid for policymakers who wish to improve their cancer control policies, especially in the area of cancer inequalities. Only high-quality, comprehensive and well-coordinated NCCPs can effectively improve cancer management and contribute to better outcomes and equity across Europe. Special emphasis was placed on recommendations regarding equity.

OriON aimed to support the monitoring and analysis of cancer control policies. Can you share some key findings from the last two years?

European countries recognised the significant challenge posed by cancer as a major public health problem and 31 out of 34 participating countries developed NCCPs or equivalent cancer control documents.

Greater attention should be devoted to the quality of NCCPs by strengthening the inclusion of the insufficiently covered areas, particularly survivorship, rehabilitation, patient empowerment, and complex domains such as financing, monitoring of cancer burden, cancer resources and governance.

Funding for the implementation of the NCCPs remains a challenge as it is not secured in the majority of countries. Greater efforts are also required to embed equity within cancer planning in Europe and prevent widening inequalities.

How does OriON interact with and complement the Cancer Inequalities Registry? What synergies are being developed between the two?

As the Cancer Inequalities Registry is intended to identify and show trends, disparities and inequalities between European countries and regions, the findings identified by OriON will complement the data of the Registry and will contribute to reducing measurable differences in cancer prevention and health care in the European Union.

How important was the support of EU funding for your Joint Action?

EU funding was of key importance for OriON. By providing generous financial support to the projects related to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, including JA OriON, the European Commission has demonstrated its strong commitment to supporting the fight against cancer.