ZAGREB, February 17, 2019 – Adopting a resolution on policy challenges and strategies against women’s cancers and related comorbidities, members of the European Parliament have called for greater engagement in the fight against women’s illnesses and for developing a strategy at EU level for equal access to health services for all women.
“One in three Europeans develop some form of cancer during their life. About 600,000 women die each year as a result of cancer and 90,000 women die of breast cancer,” Italian MEP Daniela Aiuto has said.
Croatia is ranked among the ten countries with the highest cancer mortality rate.
The resolution recommends that a strategy at EU level be prepared, which would be based on “collecting accurate and comprehensive cancer incidence/survival data disaggregated by sex in order to ensure that specific actions are targeted at cancer patients, while undertaking research, initiating preventive action against particular types of cancer, and providing access to accurate information, screening, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and post-therapy support in order to guarantee medical healthcare.”
Aiuto says that as many as 80% of women could survive breast cancer if it was diagnosed on time.
Croatia, along with Hungary, is among the ten countries with the highest cancer mortality rate, research conducted by the Washington University shows, Croatian MEP Marijana Petir has said.
“Illness doesn’t recognise sex, age, nationality, origin, social status. We are all equally exposed. That is why it is exceptionally important to raise awareness campaigns to reach everyone. It is important for preventative check-ups to be made available to everyone, including people in rural areas,” Petir says.
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