Ageism in cancer-related healthcare
16.4.2024
Question for written answer E-001125/2024
to the Commission
Rule 138
Radka Maxová (S&D), Tudor Ciuhodaru (NI), Kateřina Konečná (The Left), István Ujhelyi (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Milan Brglez (S&D), Antonius Manders (PPE), Cindy Franssen (PPE)
Under Commissioner Dubravka Suica, the Commission (2019-2024) has addressed the topic of demography and ageing. Initiatives have included the Green Paper on Ageing (January 2021) and the Demography Toolbox for Action (October 2023), which focused on empowering older people and supporting their welfare. However, there is no comprehensive EU Age Equality Strategy to integrate ageism considerations across all Commission policies.
Ageism, defined by the WHO as age-based stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, significantly affects access to healthcare. This is evident in cancer care, with the OECD’s ‘Beating Cancer Inequalities in the EU’ report (January 2024) highlighting varied age targets for cancer screenings across EU states. For example, cervical cancer screening age ranges from 23-70 in Sweden to 30-40 in Bulgaria.
Furthermore, older people’s representation in clinical trials is particularly low, impacting their access to innovative treatments. Despite no legal age limit for trial participation in EU legislation, older adults are frequently excluded, as they are deemed to be more fragile and less likely to benefit.
Against this backdrop:
- 1.Is the Commission creating an EU Age Equality Strategy and will the Directorates-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) and for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) collaborate to address healthcare inequalities for older persons?
- 2.Are these services working to combat ageism in cancer care as part of the ‘Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan’?
- 3.And is there a focus on improving the participation of older persons in clinical trials?
Submitted:16.4.2024