25 October 2022 | 11:00 – 12:30 CET | European Parliament (room: SPAAK 7C50-BRU)
Join the MEP Friends of the Liver Group on 25 October (11.00-12.30 CET) in the European Parliament (room: SPAAK 7C50-BRU), to discuss:
- What can the EU collectively do to lead and achieve this global health priority?
- How can Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan support?
- Which are the funding needs from EU4Health for the years to come, and how can it be ensured that Member States and regions in greatest need will profit from this funding?
- How can good practices be shared and picked up?
Provisional agenda:
11.00-11.05 Welcome by MEP Cyrus Engerer
11.10-11.20 Keynote by ACHIEVE Co-Chair
11.20-11.30 Intervention by EASL Policy and Public Health Councilor
11.30-12.00 Statements by: John Ryan (European Commission, DG SANTE), European Cancer Organisation
12.00-12.25 Open discussion
12.25-12.30 Conclusions by Dr Cristian Silviu Busoi MEP
Setting the scene:
In June 2022, the World Health Assembly approved the implementation of the WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy Against Viral Hepatitis for 2022-2030, which reaffirms the 2030 elimination goal whilst also highlighting liver cancer as a key driver of hepatitis B and C liver- related mortality.
Whilst some EU Member States are well on track, others are lagging behind, resulting in health inequalities. ACHIEVE and EASL has collated data from different studies which demonstrate these inequalities – on access to vaccination against Hepatitis B, on access to information about transmission routes and how to prevent this, on access to diagnosis and linkage to care for viral hepatitis B and C, on access to regular check-ups and access to preventive treatment for liver cancer. These inequalities exist across geographies and particularly affect vulnerable populations.
At the same time, ACHIEVE has also collected good practice studies from across Europe and the world, which document that significant and successful efforts are being made to fight and, ultimately, eliminate viral hepatitis.
With its policy focus on cancer prevention, its beefed up EU4Health funding, increased coordination among Member States on public health and support to countries including Ukraine, there are plentiful tools that the EU could deploy to help Member States meet the 2030 elimination deadline.