News

Greece takes the first step with the creation of a National Registry of Neoplasms –
The goals and challenges for the holistic treatment of the disease

Athens, 16 February 2024 – The Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SfEE) organised yesterday a working meeting with the Ministry of Health, representatives of the medical, scientific and academic community, patient associations, and the pharmaceutical industry, at the offices of the European Parliament in Athens. The institutional stakeholders were at the same table for the second year and discussed openly and constructively on prevention,  management and treatment of cancer, noting that for the first time an important step in this direction is being taken with the creation of a National Registry of Neoplasias. An initiative that, as has been pointed out, bridges the gap to create a National Action Plan on cancer. Other areas of discussion were the importance of screening programmes, the value of pharmaceutical innovation and equal access to it, as well as the use of European and national resources.

The Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, announced that the Ministry is already in the process of drafting a National Action Plan to fight cancer. This plan, as he said, is based on 4 main pillars – prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life of patients and survivors. Referring to the next steps, he announced the installation of an information oncology system in 12 selected hospitals, a large program that will be implemented with resources from the Recovery Fund, and which, in combination with the Registry, will completely change the way in which the progress of oncology patients is monitored.

SfEE President, Mr. Olympios Papadimitriou, pointed out that the EU beating Cancer Plan is an opportunity that the country should not let go to waste. He reiterated the commitment of the members of the Association to continue investing in research and development (R&D) of innovative therapies and ways to defeat cancer, with the aim that all patients have quick and equal access to innovative treatments.

The discussion moderated by journalist Vasilis Chiotis was attended by: Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Member of the European Parliament for New Democracy, Nadia Gogozotou, President Price Negotiation Committee of the Ministry of Health, Elissavet Grouzi, President Hellenic Hematology Society, Nikos Dedes, Secretary General of the Greek Patients Association, Lefteris Zervas, Treasurer of the Hellenic Respiratory Society, George Kapetanakis, President Hellenic Federation Cancer, Eleni Kourea, President Hellenic Society of Pathological Anatomy, Flora Bakopoulou, President Health Technology Assessment Committee (HTA), Dimitris Boumbas, President Central Health Council (KESY), Vasilis Economou, President Social Affairs Committee, Sofia Polychronopoulou, President Hellenic Society of Pediatric Oncology-Hematology, Zenia Saridaki, President Hellenic Society of Oncologists-Pathologists, Kyriakos Souliotis, Professor, University of Peloponnese, Amanda Psirri, Director of the Internal Medicine and Oncology Unit at Attiko University Hospital.