During the past months, All.Can Spain had the opportunity to meet with different spokespersons from the Health Commissions of the regional parliaments of the Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community, to present the recommendations compiled in its 3rd Report, “Long-term cancer survivors: an obstacle course,” (executive report) at a moment of particular policy relevance in both territories, as Madrid is actively shaping its long-term cancer survivors plan while the Valencian Community pursues the implementation of its recent updated Cancer Strategy.
Key topics discussed included:
- The need of implementing individualized follow-up plans for long-term survivors.
- Broadening the definition of long-term cancer survivors, including patients living with cancer as a chronic condition.
- Promoting the role of case-management nurses and primary care professionals.
In the Community of Madrid, the Platform met with Mrs. Marta Marbán, Health Spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP), accompanied by Dr. Rafael López, member of the Platform’s Scientific Committee, and President of the Spanish Association for Cancer Research (ASEICA). During this meeting, All.Can Spain had the chance to position its reports and recommendations. A subsequent meeting was held with Mr. Carlos Moreno, Health Spokesperson for the Socialist Party (PSOE), the main opposition party, with the participation of Dr. Fátima Santolaya, Second Vice-President of the Spanish Society of General and Family Doctors (SEMG) and member of the Scientific Committee, actively involved in the elaboration of Madrid’s Long-Term Cancer Survivors Plan.
In the Valencian Community, All.Can Spain met with Mrs. Ana Vega, Health Spokesperson for the VOX party, alongside Dr. Enric Barba, member of All.Can Spain’s Scientific Committee and Patient Advocate of the Melanoma España Association, centering discussions on the Platform’s recommendations for further enhancement in line with the recently updated Valencian Cancer Strategy, particularly on aspects such as, broadening the definition of long-term cancer survivors. This was followed by a meeting held with Mrs. Yaissel Sánchez Orta, Health Spokesperson for the Socialist Party (PSOE), accompanied by Mrs. Guadalupe Fontán, Coordinator of the Spanish Institute of Nursing Research at the General Council of Official Nursing Colleges of Spain, and also a member of All.Can Spain.
These meetings constitute a further step in All.Can Spain’s regional engagement efforts, supporting the integration of the needs of long-term cancer survivors into the oncology policy agendas of the Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community.