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Igor Grabovac: Voicing the need for inclusion of equity in cancer care and research at HaDEA Project Showcase

Igor Grabovac/LinkedIn

Feb 6, 2025, 14:54

Igor Grabovac: Voicing the need for inclusion of equity in cancer care and research at HaDEA Project Showcase

Igor Grabovac, Specialist in Public Health at the Medical University of Vienna, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Yesterday was World Cancer Day and I had the pleasure of participating at the first ever Project Showcase under the motto ‘Fostering synergies to beat cancer: The impact of EU-funded projects’ organised by European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).

At this inaugural event, I was able to talk in the first panel on cancer prevention and early detection with my learned colleagues. I used this opportunity once again to strongly voice the need for inclusion of equity in cancer care and cancer research – underscoring the fact that all research and all implementation needs to have a strong commitment to equity, removing of barriers and facilitate access to services.

I urged the policy makers to promote local monitoring of health inequity and strengthen the activities of the JRC in further developing the inequalities registry, reiterating the points made by magnificent Sandra Caldeira.

We need to remember that behind every data point there is a personal story, a complex issue and that we have the resposibility to provide EU citizens best policies based on the best data. Lastly, it is important that we do not take our European values for granted.

Finally, even as there is some apprehension on what role the fight against cancer will take in the new European Commission – the introductionary talks by Director General Sandra Gallina and the HaDEA Director Marina Zanchi clearly underlined the commitment by DG Sante and HaDEA in continuing to support the EU Cancer Missions and funding of scientific projects in this field.

This event was brimful of positivity made even stronger by patient testimonials and possibility to connect with other colleagues doing wonderful work and I hope HaDEA continues to organise them.”

Igor Grabovac: Voicing the need for inclusion of equity in cancer care and research at HaDEA Project Showcase