Parliament calls for a national cancer plan
Published: Thursday, Feb 29th 2024, 12:50
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Parliament is calling for a national plan to combat cancer. After the Council of States, the National Council also adopted a motion to this effect on Thursday - by 128 votes to 54 with one abstention. The ball is now in the Federal Council's court.
The proposal comes from the Council of States' Social Security and Health Committee (SGK-S). It argues that better coordination in the fight against cancer is essential in view of rising cancer rates and new treatment options.
Other countries such as Germany and France have already established a national cancer plan, and the "Europe Beating Cancer Plan" has been developed at European level, the supporters continued. In Switzerland, on the other hand, there has been no coordinated strategy against cancer since 2020. This needs to change.
The SVP parliamentary group took a different view. The current organization Oncosuisse has all the necessary instruments to implement a national cancer strategy without the involvement of the public sector, said parliamentary group leader Thomas Aeschi (ZG).
Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider argued similarly: important steps had already been taken. Beyond that, there is currently no need for further coordination at national level.
Nevertheless, the Federal Council must now draw up a national cancer plan based on the National Strategy against Cancer 2014-2020. The federal government, the cantons and relevant organizations and experts are to be involved in the development of the cancer plan.
The parliamentary majority also sees the adoption of the motion as a signal for more financial support from the federal government. There is the political will to find a solution for how Oncosuisse and its work in the national fight against cancer can be supported.
©Keystone/SDA
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