Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors Initiative

As the number of cancer survivors steadily grows over the years and medical progress helped make cancer no longer a death sentence, the importance of ending discrimination against cancer survivors is now more crucial than ever.

Surviving cancer is already an incredibly challenging journey, but even after being cured, survivors are left with many obstacles: workplace marginalisation, psychological distress, as well as difficulties accessing financial services. When it comes to the latter, at the moment, only six EU countries have implemented the right to be forgotten for cancer survivors – meaning that after a certain period of time (5, 7, or 10 years depending on the country), financial providers can no longer take into account the medical history of cancer, to refuse insurance coverage or  request increased premiums.

To ensure that cancer survivors do not face financial discrimination, we need the European Union and Member States to work towards implementing the right to be forgotten across the EU.

''As I have dedicated my professional life to cancer patients and helping them overcome their diseases. Throughout my career, I witnessed the numerous types of discrimination, that cancer patients and survivors face. This is why, since 2014, I have been working tirelessly towards ending financial discrimination against cancer survivors. Cancer survivors should not pay twice’’ Prof. Dr. Françoise Meunier.

 

You can read more on the “Ending discrimination against cancer survivors” initiative here.