📋 Tender Overview
Today as part of the EU Cancer Screening Scheme to be put forward under Europes Beating Cancer Plan the Commission presents a new approach to support Member States increasing the uptake of cancer screening. Focusing on detection of cancers at an early stage the objective of the proposed recommendation is to increase the number of screenings covering more target groups and more cancers.This new EU approach based on the latest available scientific developments and evidence will support Member States ensuring that 90 of the EU population who qualify for breast cervical and colorectal cancer screenings are offered such screening by 2025. The new recommendation also expands population-based organised cancer screening to include lung prostate and under certain circumstances gastric cancers.Vice-President for Promoting European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas said Cancer is a health priority for us In the past two years COVID has taken a toll on cancer prevention detection and diagnosis. The sooner cancer is detected it can make a real difference by increasing treatment options and saving lives. And for this we need to boost cancer screening across the EU. Today we again show our commitment to fight cancer decisively and collectively.Stella Kyriakides Commissioner for Health and Food Safety said In 2020 an estimated 2.7 million people living in the EU were diagnosed with cancer and more than 1.3 million people lost their lives to this disease. We know that early diagnosis saves lives and improves quality of life. Today under Europes Beating Cancer Plan we are setting a new course for cancer screening in the EU. With our new recommendations the EU Cancer Screening Scheme will be covering cancer types that together account for almost 55 of all new cases diagnosed in the EU every year. Our new recommendations based on scientific evidence and the excellence developed in cancer research of the last 20 years will reinforce our action across the EU to act early and fill the gap created by the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis and care. Together we can all make a difference to the cancer trends.The proposed Recommendation introduces a new EU approach for best practices to improve cancer screening replacing the current one which is in place since already 20 years and in urgent need of updating. The proposal is a flagship initiative of Europes Beating Cancer Plan and reflects the latest available scientific developments and evidence. Financial support for the roll out of the new recommendations is available with 385 million committed under the EU4Health Programme and 60 million under Horizon Europe. In addition the Commission will propose additional funding for cancer screening under the 2023 EU4Health programme. Further support can also be provided from the European regional cohesion and social funds.What is newThe recommendation aims to increase the uptake of cancer screening for breast colorectal and cervical cancer to reach the target set in Europes Beating Cancer Plan to offer such screenings to 90 of those who qualify by 2025. In addition targeted screening should be extended to other cancers notably prostate lung and gastric cancer.To facilitate more targeted and less invasive screening the recommendationextends the target group for breast cancer screening to include women between 45 and 74 years of age as compared to the current age bracket of 50 to 69recommends that Human Papillomavirus HPV testing should take place for women aged 30 to 65 every 5 years or more to detect cervical cancer taking account of HPV vaccination statuscalls for triage testing for colorectal cancer in people aged 50-74 through faecal immunochemical testing to determine potential follow-up via endoscopycolonoscopy.Building on the most recent evidence and methods the recommendation extends organised screening to three additional cancersLung cancer testing for current heavy and ex-smokers aged 50-75.Prostate cancer testing in men up to 70 on the basis of prostate specific antigen testing and magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanning as follow-up.Screening for Helicobacter pylori and surveillance of precancerous stomach lesions in places with high gastric cancer incidence and death rates.The Recommendation pays particular attention to equal access to screening the needs of particular socioeconomic groups persons with disabilities and people living in rural or remote areas to make cancer screening a reality across the EU. It is also important to ensure adequate and timely diagnostic procedures treatments psychological support and after-care. The recommendation furthermore introduces a regular systematic monitoring of screening programmes including disparities via the European Cancer Information System and the Cancer Inequalities Registry.To support the implementation EU guidelines on cancer screening and treatment will be developed with the financial support of EU4Health on lung prostate and gastric cancer. Existing EU guidelines on breast colorectal and cervical cancer will be regularly updated.
