Cancer treatment: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU4Health support to cancer diagnosis and treatment

Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to increase cancer survival rates of people affected by cancer, which is the second leading cause of mortality in the EU. Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan aims to ensure that all EU citizens have equal access to high-quality cancer diagnostics and treatment.

The EU4Health programme funds projects that aim to reduce the differences in the standards of care received by patients across the EU, to train and support the cancer workforce for high-quality care, to improve access to innovative medicines and to roll-out personalised medicine approaches in daily medical practice.

10 ongoing projects funded under the EU4Health programme are dedicated to improving cancer diagnosis and treatment, with new projects on the horizon.

Joint Action CraNE aims to establish an EU Network of National Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) to improve access to comprehensive high-quality cancer care and reduce disparities across the EU.

Joint Action JANE has the objective of paving the way for the establishment of seven EU Networks of Expertise (NoEs) in the field of cancer. By fostering coordinated relationships within the European oncology community, the Joint Action aims to find solutions that allow patients across the EU to benefit from increased knowledge and expertise and more accessible health services.

EU-CanIneq supports the European Cancer Inequalities Registry by mapping disparities and inequalities between EU countries and regions with a focus on socio-economic inequalities.

CAN.HEAL works towards developing an integrated approach to improve access of individuals and cancer patients and survivors to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through personalised medicine.

CHIP-AML22 implements advanced genetic diagnostics and targeted treatments for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

PCM4EU draws upon the expertise of partners from 15 EU countries to promote personalised cancer medicine (PCM) and improve the survival rates and quality of life of cancer patients in the EU.

NEWROAD aims to create an open, collaborative platform to repurpose drugs in oncology, drawing upon data provided by healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

i-Violin focuses on streamlining and standardising oncological imaging procedures across Europe, building upon tools developed in other EU-funded projects and ensuring their broad adoption.

BEACON´s goal is to map oncological data across the EU to aid stakeholders in making informed healthcare decisions and to better understand disparities in cancer care within the EU.

INTERACT-EUROPE is developing a new approach to inter-specialty cancer training across oncology surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology and cancer nursing, which will be accessible to any cancer centre in the EU.

Background 

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.

HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan