In its report on Beating Cancer, Members of the European Parliament stress the ‘’importance of developing a holistic, integrative and patient-centred approach’’
On 16th of February, the European Parliament (EP) approved the report “Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer – towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy“, drafted by the EP Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA). The report proposes priorities and actions to the European Commission on the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
The report stresses the need for better prevention strategies and equal access to the highest quality cancer care.
It further “highlights the fact that scientifically recognised integrative medicine approved by public health authorities can bring benefits to patients in relation to the parallel effects of several diseases, such as cancer, and their treatment; stresses the importance of and encouraging, where appropriate, the complementary use of these therapies under the supervision of healthcare professionals.” 1
IVAA applauds these recommendations, which rightly recognise the role of evidence-based Integrative Oncology to improve cancer care.
Integrative Medicine makes use of different medical traditions to optimise health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes along conventional treatments in all disease stages. Integrative Oncology, as an expansion of mainstream cancer care, ensures safe and coherent treatment approaches, while responding to the preferences of patients for these additional treatments.
1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0038_EN.pdf [Article 113]
