EU Regulations

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EU Regulations
The content of this page is intended for both health professionals and patients who need to navigate the many laws and regulations directly affecting access to medical services.

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan

The European Plan to Beat Cancer is a comprehensive strategy developed by the European Commission to significantly reduce the burden of cancer across the EU. Launched as a key pillar of the European Health Union, the plan is structured to tackle cancer through a broad set of actions, including:

  • Prevention: The plan emphasizes the importance of prevention, recognizing that a significant proportion of cancers can be prevented through lifestyle changes, vaccinations and reducing exposure to carcinogens.
  • Early detection: The plan advocates improving early detection through screening programs and increasing public awareness of early symptoms and signs, with the goal of diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most curable.
  • Diagnosis and treatment: The plan calls for ensuring access to high-quality and timely diagnosis and treatment for all EU citizens, using the latest medical advances and technologies.
  • Quality of life: The plan focuses on improving the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors, including palliative care and support for returning to normal life after cancer treatment.
  • Research and Innovation: An important component includes promoting oncology research and innovation, encouraging the development of new therapies and improving existing ones.
  • Equal access: One of the main objectives is to ensure equal access to cancer care in all Member States, reducing disparities in cancer outcomes across the EU.

EU Regulations

Council Recommendation of 9 December 2022 on strengthening prevention through early detection: a new EU approach to cancer screening and replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC 2022/C 473/01/
Council Recommendation of 9 December 2022 on strengthening prevention through early detection: A new EU approach on cancer screening replacing Council Recommendation 2003/878/EC 2022/C 473/01
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32022H1213%2801%29

Regulation (EU) 2021/522 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing a program for Union action in the field of health (EU program in support of health) for the period 2021 —2027 and repealing Regulation (EU) No. 282/2014 (Text with EEA relevance)/
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/BG/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0522
Regulation (EU) 2021/522 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing a Program for the Union's action in the field of health ('EU4Health Programme') for the period 2021 -2027, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 (Text with EEA relevance)https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2021.107.01.0001.01.ENG
regulation-eu-2021-522 -of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-of-24-march-2021-establishing-a-programme-for-the-unions-action-in-the-field-of-health-eu4health -programme-for-the-period-2021-2027
Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the exercise of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare
https://www.mh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2015/04/14/direktiva-24_09-03-2011_prava-patsienti-transgranichno-zdravno-obsluzhvane.pdf
directive-2011-24-eu-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-of-9-march-2011-on-the-application-of-patients-rights -in-cross-border-healthcare

European Parliament resolution of 15 September 2011 on the position and commitment of the European Union with a view to the United Nations Summit on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases
https://www.mh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2015/04/08/rezolyutsiya_15-09-2011_ep_profilaktika-nezarazni-zabolyavaniya.pdf
resolution-of-the-european-parliament-of-15-september-2011-on-the-position-and-commitment-of-the-european-union-with-regard-to-the -un-high-level-meeting-on-the-prevention-and-control-of-non-communicable-diseases