ECONOMIST-Georgiadis: We have no time to waste

Greece’s determination to fight cancer is being discussed – among other things – at the fourth annual Economist Impact summit taking place in Athens. The conference is under the scientific auspices of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO) and the Hellenic Cancer Federation. Achievements, obstacles and the European reality in this context will dominate the summit, while outstanding speakers from Greece and abroad will focus on key issues related to Greece’s progress and future in the fight against cancer, social disparities in public policy making, early detection of cancer, and the role of biomarkers & new technologies. The national health system reforms in Greece, the contribution of artificial intelligence, EU and national investment opportunities, and the importance of incorporating the patient voice in cancer policy planning will also be discussed during the sessions.

In the section “Greece’s progress in the fight against cancer”, its strategy was analysed and the need for a national cancer plan was highlighted.

Opening the proceedings of the ECONOMIST conference, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis expressed his satisfaction over the progress that science has made regarding breakthroughs in cancer treatment during the last 10 years. For the first time, he pointed out, humanity can say that we can tackle cancer. However, there are many challenges that accompany these developments. Innovative treatments are accompanied by financial challenges and these concern the entire health system around the world, the minister said. The population is aging, new treatments are expensive and government budgets are stretched. I am optimistic, Georgiadis noted, that we will succeed in cooperation with the scientific community. The use of new medicines, he pointed out, must be done in a responsible way for the patient as well, but it is also the State’s responsibility that the patient has his medicine when he really needs it.

Not wasting resources becomes a necessary condition to be able to have the medicines when we need them, the minister said, stressing the need to utilise resources in the most efficient way. He also referred to the National Cancer Registry, which was one of the first he signed as health minister, and whose success depends on the cooperation of everyone involved. Regarding the National Cancer Action Plan, the minister pledged that his tenure will be linked to its implementation. For Greece, the treatment of cancer is a top priority, as it is for all health systems. “We have no time to lose, we have to run,” the minister underlined.