Oncological seminar in the European Parliament

On Wednesday the 13th of September 2005, a seminar devoted to the problems of oncology in the member states of the European Union took place in the premises of the European Parliament. I gladly accepted the patronage over the seminar as well as participation in its organization.

The main point of the program was the ceremonial presentation of the report "Cancer Prevention and Care: Closing the gap." The report was presented by its three authors, namely Prof. Karol Sikora, Dr. Jim Attridge and Prof. Nick Bosanquet, all of whom are from the Imperial College. The report is concerned with the organization of oncological care in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. These three countries, which joined the European Union on the 1st of May, 2004, have similar parameters not only in the area of organizing health care in oncology.

Apart from the authors of the report, two professionals also spoke on the seminar, namely Dr. Imre Boncz, the representative of a Hungarian health insurance company, and Doc. MUDr. Rostislav Vyzula CSc., the representative of the Czech Oncological Association ČLS JEP. Dr. Boncz informed us especially of some of the existing prevention programs in the area of oncology in Hungary, as well as others that are currently being prepared. Doc. Vyzula presented in a very coherent speech the current status and trends in Czech oncology.

The seminar had a great acceptance not only among professionals, but also among politicians and the representatives of public administration. I greatly value the presence of some of the important members of the European Parliament, especially Roger Helmer, Ria Oomen Riunen, Karin Joens, Georg Andrejevs, from the Czech members also Jaroslav Zvěřina a Zuzana Roithová. I am glad that even Petr Sláma, the deputy minister of healthcare, took part.

The seminar was very successful, and my thanks go especially to the speakers, but also to the debate participants and others present. It is clear that oncology is one of the main themes in the discussion of healthcare and its organization. Judging from the reactions of the participants, it will be beneficial to repeat this action in some time.

• The Report: Cancer Prevention and Care: Closing the Gap [PDF, 310kB]
• The report "Cancer Prevention and Care: Closing the Gap", presented by its authors at the seminar [PDF, 51kB]
• The presentation by Dr. Bonzce [PDF, 119kB]
• The presentation by Doc. Vyzula [PDF, 3MB]
• Attendees at Cancer lunch September 15th 2005 [PDF, 62kB]