Françoise Meunier, Vice President of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, and Founder of the European Initiative on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Last week, I had the privilege of addressing the Cancer Patients Europe Annual Meeting 2026 on a subject I have been advocating for since 10 years: the end of financial discrimination for cancer survivors.
It was an honour to share this session with Robert Troy, Ireland’s Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance; and survivors Ingrid Krücken, Executive Board Member of Europa Donna Luxembourg; and Elordi García Insausti, whose testimony as a survivor powerfully reminded everyone in the room why this issue matters.
I was particularly encouraged by Minister Troy’s contribution and by Ireland’s progress on this file. Ireland is now moving from a voluntary industry code towards a legally binding framework for the Right to be Forgotten, while reducing the remission period from seven years to five, in line with international medical standards. As the Irish Presidency begins in the coming days, Ireland has a real opportunity to set the tone and lead by example.
Minister Troy made the point clearly: with cancer survival in Ireland now around 65%, there are more survivors than ever before, and the financial system must keep pace with this reality by treating them fairly.
As I shared during the session, this progress brings a new responsibility: ensuring that life after cancer is not limited by unnecessary financial barriers, or discrimination long after treatment has ended.
That is why the end of financial discrimination for cancer survivors becomes more important with each passing year.
Many thanks to Cancer Patients Europe for the invitation and for keeping survivorship at the heart of the conversation.”
Other articles featuring Françoise Meunier on OncoDaily.