On November 4th, All.Can Spain took a significant step in the fight against cancer by calling for political action during a session held at the Spanish Congress of Deputies. At this event, members of the platform’s Scientific Committee highlighted the urgent need to prioritise public policies that optimise cancer care in Spain. In the presence of representatives from various parliamentary groups, All.Can Spain presented a joint Non-Legislative Proposal (NLP) encompassing nine key recommendations to transform cancer care. This initiative responds to the critical need to place people at the centre of the oncology system in a context where cancer has now become the leading cause of death in the country, surpassing cardiovascular diseases, which had previously held the top position.
The meeting provided an open and constructive forum for dialogue with members of the Congress’ Health Committee, who discussed the proposal and explored solutions to improve cancer management. In doing so, All.Can Spain reaffirmed its commitment to driving significant changes in oncology care, exposing inefficiencies in the system that affect patient experiences and outcomes.
This draft of NLP summarised the key recommendations from the two reports produced by the Scientific Committee, all focused on identifying and addressing inefficiencies, with the aim of building a sustainable healthcare model that provides optimal support and resources for cancer patients. Among the primary proposals are the optimisation of cancer care pathways, streamlined access to innovative treatments, the strengthening of multidisciplinary care through tumour boards, and specialised training for nursing and pharmacy professionals in oncology. Furthermore, the platform emphasises the importance of primary care training, comprehensive patient support, the integration of precision medicine, and the establishment of outcome indicators in oncology centres.
In a country where, according to recent data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (June 2024), cancer accounted for 26.6% of deaths in 2023, with a total of 433,163 fatalities, these recommendations underscore the urgent need for extensive reforms. The proposal also highlights the projected rise in cancer incidence, with an estimated 341,000 cases expected by 2040 in Spain, and advocates for a multidimensional approach to manage this exponential growth.
By organising this event, All.Can Spain reaffirms its commitment to positioning cancer as a priority on the political agenda. The interest shown by parliamentary representatives by taking into consideration these proposals, reflects a promising step towards the implementation of significant changes that could improve the lives of cancer patients across Spain.
