Council Recommendation on strengthening prevention methods for early-detection cancer screening
On 20 September 2022, the European Commission proposed a Council Recommendation 2022/0290(NLE) for cancer screening, data sharing, and access for citizens.
This new Recommendation is intended to replace Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC, which provides suggestions for Member States to individually implement cancer screening programs, management and monitoring of subsequent data, and incorporate new screening tests as research arises.
Council Recommendation 2022/0290(NLE) proposes the following to the Member States:
1) shifting from a population-based approach, which concentrates on broader community wellness, to a person-centered approach, focused on specific individual health concerns and risk stratification.
2) highlighting the importance of informed consent from individuals before they commit to participate.
3) recommending the evaluation and providing of data for cancer research, while still complying with data protection laws, in the European cancer information system.
4) suggesting focusing on developing appropriate means for persons with disabilities or livelihoods in remote regions to access facilities for cancer screenings.
5) requiring participating Member States to report on the implementation of cancer screening programs four years following the adoption of this recommendation.
6) establishing the Commission’s goal of helping Member States overcome any legal and technical barriers that harm interoperability amongst related local, national, and international registries. Council Recommendation 2022/0290(NLE) was forwarded to the European Council and Parliament for review.
