ELLOK Leads Discussions on New Cancer Plan for Greece

ELLOK, ECO and the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology have been partnering on advocacy activities throughout the year and were pleased to see commitments from the Greek government in February for the creation of its new Cancer Plan and Cancer Registry. It prompted ELLOK to bring together stakeholders from across Greece and Europe to examine what can make the new plan as strong as possible. 

The agenda of the 1st Greek Forum on Cancer (1-2 July) included special sessions on European best practices in cancer policy, effective support towards innovation, regional cooperation and connections with major EU collaboration projects in cancer, including CCI4EU, CraNE, JANE and European Health Data Space projects. Among the keynote speakers were: Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety; Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis; Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou; and Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistocleous.   

ECO was invited to participate in sessions on Funding Strategic Priorities in Cancer and on Digital Health. On Funding Strategic Priorities, Richard Price, ECO Head of Policy, emphasised the importance of broader awareness of EU funding opportunities in cancer, with networks and collaborations such as the European Cancer Organisation assisting organisations new to EU funding to find partners and entry points to respond to the call for proposals. On Digital Health, ECO’s immediate past President Professor Andreas Charalambous focused on the significance of the EU’s digital ambitions and the many health dimensions to that. Examples of digital health tools and education projects were presented with an emphasis on their utility and openness for new participants.  

ECO also published a refreshed European Cancer Pulse Country Report for Greece for the occasion of the 1st Greek Forum on Cancer, celebrating developments and improvements such as the forthcoming creation of its Cancer Plan, Cancer Registry and a Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors.  

ECO looks forward to further working with its associate members in Greece ELLOK and HESMO to support impactful changes that meet the particular needs for Greece and support the EU's major ambitions on cancer control. 

The full conference is available to view on YouTube.