SIOPE Session at the European Health Forum Gastein 2023
We are happy to share that SIOPE organised a session at the European Health Forum Gastein 2023. The European Health Forum Gastein has an over 25-year long history and assembles each year high level speakers and participants from the public and private sector, civil society, science and academia to exchange their specific perspectives and knowledge on health policy. The SIOPE Session took place on the 27th of September with the topic “Pioneering cross-border collaborations for the European Health Union - Learnings from childhood cancer successes”.
Watch the recording of the session
The Session was moderated by Prof. Ruth Ladenstein, Head of Clinical Trials Unit S²IRP – CCRI and ERN PaedCan Coordinator. Panellists included Dr. Gilles Vassal, Board Member and Policy Lead of SIOPE, Lejla Kamerić, member of CCI-E and Board Member the parent organization ‘Heart for kids with cancer’, Alexandra Tamas, Director Public Affairs EFPIA, and István Ujhelyi, Member of the European Parliament.
In this session the childhood cancer community shared how they managed to achieve an 80% survival rate over the last 30 years through cross-border collaboration. The panel discussion focused on how to tackle inequalities in research and care across Europe.
- Gilles Vassal gave an overview of successes and struggles of the childhood cancer community. He pointed out that the aim is to cure better with fewer late effects for which innovation is needed. He stressed that engagement is necessary on a European Level as well as on the Member State level to invest in better treatment, in access to better treatment and access to clinical trials.
- Lejla Kamerić focused on inequalities between West and East Europe. Survival rates differ due to unequal access to medicine, care and innovation. She advocated to strengthen the national contact points, have more educational exchange and training between doctors and called for the implementation of a European standard in clinical practices.
- Ruth Ladenstein introduced the European Reference Network in Paediatric Oncology (ERN PaedCan) and how it aims to foster more equality in Europe. She highlighted what can be done for better cross-border collaboration trough the ERNs: education, twinning and helping each other. Furthermore, she emphasized the necessity of cross-border access to innovation. She concluded by stressing the importance of availability of essential medicines all over Europe and innovation for new and better drugs.
- István Ujhelyi showed his strong support in finding solutions on a European Level to tackle inequalities in Europe. He supported the concept of the European Commission for the Pharmaceutical Legislation to put the patients in the centre.
- Alexandra Tamas pointed out the general willingness of pharma companies to tackle inequalities but stressed that it is mostly national processes that are delaying access and availability of medicine. She concluded that there is no silver bullet to solve issues in the short term, but for the long-term solutions shall be found through collaboration and involvement of all stakeholders in the process.
Key takeaways from the session:
1. Solutions for inequalities across Europe in care and research can only be found in collaboration with all stakeholders
2. Measures need to be taken on an EU and national level to tackle drug shortages, facilitate access to high quality care and innovation
3. European Reference Networks need support not only on EU but especially at the member state level
