The European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) Annual General Assembly, elected Francesco De Lorenzo as new President in charge for the next 3 years.

For the first time, an Italian at the helm of the European Coalition of Cancer Patients.

Prof. Francesco De Lorenzo, president of FAVO (Italian Federation of Voluntary Associations in Oncology), has been elected for the next three years as president of ECPC.

ECPC brings together more than 300 associations of cancer patients throughout Europe, representing 42 countries, whose motto is: Nothing for us without us.

"Protecting the rights of people affected by cancer must be a priority of all governments. And in the next three years we will work for developing a common policy at the European level, drawing on the experience gained in Italy with FAVO," said Prof. De Lorenzo. 

"A priority will be to overcome the unacceptable disparities in access to existing drugs among the European countries, especially with regard to Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. Also for this reason it is essential to formulate a European Cancer Plan in order to ensure equal rights to all citizens of the member countries in access to care and diagnostic and therapeutic services of higher quality. Cancer is a disease that affects the entire community, both in terms of prevention and care." 

Every year in Europe there are more than 3 million new diagnoses of cancer, which is the main cause of death in the Old Continent after cardiovascular diseases.

ECPC, which is based in Brussels, is celebrating these days the tenth anniversary of its foundation.

Prof. De Lorenzo concluded, "ECPC’s main goal is the promotion of the fundamental rights of cancer patients in Europe.

Also elected: Kathi Apostolidis (Greece, Vice Chairman), Vlad Vasile Voiculescu (Romania, Vice President and Secretary); Pelouchová Jana (Czech Republic, Treasurer) and Sarah Lindsell (UK), Elena Caruso (Italy); Swierzewski Rafal (Poland).

Source: OECI