Cancer screenings must double, says EU health chief

EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has called for the number of cancer screenings in member states to be doubled

Breast, cervical and colorectal cancer already accounts for 32 per cent of cancer deaths in women and 11 per cent in men, and Brussels warned that, with an ageing population, this figure would increase "unless preventative measures are taken".

The EU shares "a common commitment" to ensure screening takes place in member states, it said.

"In these times of financial uncertainty, we need to recognise, more than ever, the importance of planning for a healthy future," said Vassiliou.

"Investing in cancer screening programmes will pay long-term dividends, as prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective way to minimise the European burden of cancer."

Her comments came as the commission publishes a report on council recommendations from 2003.

Health ministers want to see 125 million examinations per year but the report said that only 55 million people attended screening programmes in 2007.

And while it said "substantial efforts" had been made, it concluded that the EU was only around half-way towards implementing the recommendations for a minimum number of screenings.

Calling for greater efforts within individual countries, it added that there should be better collaboration between member states and more professional and scientific support for population-based screening programmes.

It also revealed wide variations between member states into the incidence and mortality rate.

For example, the highest incident rate for breast cancer is in Belgium and the highest mortality rate Denmark; while Romania has the lowest incidence rate and Spain has the lowest mortality rate for the disease.

The commission will launch a European partnership against cancer this year, aimed at supporting member states in tackling the disease more effectively.

"This partnership intends to put in place EU-wide commitments on concrete action to prevent and control cancer," the report said.

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