Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-18-Speech-2-248"
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"en.20031118.8.2-248"2
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". – Mr President, the Commission very much welcomes the work of the rapporteur, Mr Mussa, and the members of the two committees involved, who have managed to reach unanimity in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection on a comprehensive and high quality report.
Fighting cancer has been one of the Commission’s major public health priorities. Each year cancer is diagnosed in about 1.6 million Europeans and kills around 950 000 people.
Estimates suggest, however, that the lives of about 75 000 Europeans could be saved annually if best practices of cancer screening were made available to all citizens across the European Union. Even more lives could be saved by extending these recommendations to the acceding countries. The Commission’s proposal for a recommendation on cancer screening and Mr Mussa’s report show a clear sign of shared commitment to that end.
The purpose of this proposal is to make recommendations for mass screening programmes on a sound scientific basis. It aims to achieve further reductions of cancer-specific mortality in all Member States by establishing general principles of best practice, as recommended by cancer experts.
In addressing these questions, we must however remember that the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care fall under the competence of the Member States. That is why the Commission’s proposal addresses the issue through a Council recommendation. However, I should stress that these issues are essential preconditions for the success of any screening programme.
The proposal foresees a report on the implementation of cancer screening programmes, on the basis of information to be provided by Member States, no later than the end of the third year after the date of its adoption. This report will be used to consider the need for further action.
In the follow-up the Commission will take a particular interest in the two main areas of the scientific developments. First, the new tests which would improve or possibly even replace recommended methods, such as combining the pap test with testing for infection with high-risk human papilloma viruses or in other words, HPV testing, and, second, the new tests for cancers in other organs, such as PSA testing for prostate cancer.
Thank you again for your continued support on this important public health issue."@en1
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