Cancer: European Manifesto for Digital Health and Cancer Care is launched
Precision therapies and more homogeneous scientific data among priorities identified by the Nino Amadore Cancer Institute
Key points
A call to action to ensure continuity and coherence in European cancer policies. This is the objective of the first 'European Manifesto for Digital Health and Oncology Care', which is designed to translate scientific evidence into structural policies capable of generating a lasting impact in cancer care for the benefit of European citizens.
"In Europe there are approximately 2.7 million new cancer diagnoses and 1.3 million deaths each year," emphasises Nicola Normanno, Scientific Director of the IRCCS 'Dino Amadori'. Today, patient care is undergoing a profound transformation, ranging from precision oncology to artificial intelligence via new strategies for early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In this sense, cancer policies are a test bed for the alignment of innovation, data, ethics, equity and sustainability. With our Manifesto we intend to give some concrete answers to the current great challenge we face'.
The signed manifesto at an international event
The manifesto was presented on 13 January at the international conference "EU Digital Health and Cancer Care: from scientific evidence to policy impact" and signed by the participants of the event representing national and international research institutes and bodies active in the field of European health policies. The event, promoted and organised by the Irccs Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori "Dino Amadori", was held in the premises and with the collaboration of the Delegation to the EU of the Emilia-Romagna Region, EUREGHA and is supported by the FLUTE and IMPACT-AML projects financed by the European Union.
The Five Main Chapters
The manifesto is divided into five main 'Calls to Actions' addressed to European and national policy makers, called upon to ensure a strong, visible and funded role dedicated to health and cancer in the next FP10 Framework Programme and the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework; invest in interoperable, secure and truly patient-centred digital health ecosystems consolidate the EUnetCCC network as a permanent operational pillar of European cancer policy; recognise precision oncology as a strategic investment for health systems; maintain the EU Cancer Mission as a strategic priority, safeguarding a dedicated, long-term European health programme.
These actions are essential to ensure continuity and coherence in European cancer policies, ensuring adequate resources for the fight against cancer and that they are not exclusively absorbed in broader programmes on competitiveness. A structured investment in digital health, based on interoperability, security, data governance and citizen trust, is crucial to turn innovation into concrete benefits for patients and health systems. Strengthening the network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres through EUnetCCC will reduce inequalities between Member States by aligning research, care and training. In parallel, the large-scale adoption of precision oncology will improve diagnosis, treatment effectiveness and resource efficiency, ensuring equity of access to innovation. Finally, maintaining the EU Cancer Mission as a long-term strategy, supported by stable political commitment and dedicated funding, is crucial to consolidate the progress achieved and strengthen European leadership in cancer prevention and treatment.
