Belgian ‘Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan’ Mirror Group

Last updated on 2-4-2024 by Marie Malingreau

Project duration:

October 21, 2021

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Project with no end date

In short

Cancer is a major societal challenge. Current projection is that, without strong action, the incidence will increase by a fifth by 2040, representing up to 5.323.141 cancer cases in Europe. The European Commission (EC) wants to tackle cancer through two major initiatives:

Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has appointed the Cancer Centre to coordinate the implementation of the EBCP in Belgium in consultation with the Cabinet, the FPS Health and the National Health and Disability Insurance RIZIV/INAMI.

More info on the project website

Project description

The Be-EBPC Mirror Group will involve Belgian policy organisations, professional groups, patient associations and scientific researchers, and industry. As coordinator, the CC will :

develop content
consult with Belgian partners and authorities
provide support
link to other initiatives within Belgium and internationally.

A standardized workflow will be deployed starting with the launch of Thematic Working Groups (TWGs). The following TWGs have been proposed:

Prevention, Early detection and Screening
Diagnosis and Treatment
Care and Care organisation (including palliative and psycho-social care)
Rehabilitation and socio-professional integration
Citizen and patient engagement
Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYAs) with cancer
Artificial intelligence

Nb: The topics “research”, “inequalities” and “quality of life” are no longer covered in a specific TWG, but as a transversal topic which will be covered horizontally across the whole cancer continuum, in all of the thematic working groups.

Interested in participating?

TWGs serve in an advisory capacity by identifying the EC’s proposals most relevant to address cancer needs and challenges in Belgium, and also by proposing relevant topics to include in future EU calls. Whereas some calls will be more a prerogative at federal level (i.e. Joint Actions are direct grants to EU-MS national competent authorities), others will be more relevant for research centres and agencies that concentrate expertise in specific domains (i.e. Action grants). The activities will be monitored by a steering group chaired by the Cancer Centre, with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, the RIZIV-INAMI and the services of the Federal Minister of Health.

The expected results are:

better alignment of Belgium’s cancer policy aims, and field activities with EBCP
systematic identification of funding opportunities for cancer research, care and control
optimized allocation of resources in a competitive and complex tendering environment
uptake of interventions that reduce the cancer burden, and improve the care, survival, and quality of life of patients in Belgium.
strengthened collaborations amongst national cancer stakeholders and EU counterparts

Read the concept note on this initiative