On May 18, EUREGHA’s Internal Working Group on Cancer gathered regional authorities, healthcare providers, researchers, and patient organisations from across Europe for a dedicated exchange on “Patient Engagement in Cancer Prevention and Care”.
- The European Commission (Kay Duggan-Walls) an overview of the forthcoming EU Cancer Mission calls under Horizon Europe. Discussions also focused on the role of National Cancer Mission Hubs in strengthening collaboration between European, national, regional, and local actors, as well as on the importance of citizen and patient engagement within future Mission projects.
- The Youth Cancer Europe (Katie Rizvi), presented the YARN project. The discussion highlighted the importance of empowering young people with liver cancer experience through peer support, psychosocial wellbeing initiatives, education and career reintegration, and inclusive participation in healthcare and research processes. The project represents an important example of how meaningful patient engagement can help shape more responsive and person-centred cancer systems across Europe.
- AUSL Bologna (Enrico Franceschi), presented the work of IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna and its patient-centred oncology ecosystem and the regional Oncology & Hemato-Oncology Network, showcasing how Emilia-Romagna is strengthening continuity of care, multidisciplinary collaboration, proximity oncology, and equitable access to high-quality cancer services across the territory. The presentation highlighted the role of integrated clinical pathways, regional registries, molecular diagnostic platforms, precision medicine, and coordinated governance mechanisms in building a more connected and integrated regional cancer care model. Particular attention was also given to the importance of hospital-community continuity and to ensuring that specialized expertise, research, and innovative treatments are accessible throughout the regional healthcare system.
- EUREGHA Secretariat (Michele Calabrò & Marco Di Donato) shared updates on ongoing cancer-related projects and engagement opportunities connected to the EU Cancer Mission and Horizon Europe. Particular attention was given to EUREGHA’s dedicated exchange with the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) Secretariat taking place tomorrow, aimed at strengthening the involvement of regional and local health authorities in future IHI funding opportunities. The session also focused on the upcoming ECHoS II – Cancer Mission Hubs initiative, designed to strengthen National Cancer Mission Hubs and reinforce collaboration between European, national, regional, and local cancer ecosystems. Opportunities connected to InnoMedCatalyst were additionally showcased, supporting collaboration between healthcare providers, innovators, startups, and regional stakeholders to accelerate the uptake of healthcare innovation across Europe.
The discussion reaffirmed the importance of patient-centred governance, regional cooperation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in building more connected, innovative, and inclusive cancer ecosystems across Europe, while strengthening the role of regions in translating European priorities into concrete healthcare solutions for citizens and patients.
related posts
