World Cancer Day 2024
Bonn, February 2, 2024 – Internationally, this year’s World Cancer Day has the motto “Together, we challenge those in power”. The goal is a world free of cancer. To this end, decision-makers in health care and politics should develop innovative strategies and create fair access to high-quality health services. Reason for the federal association “House of Cancer Self-Help”. V.” (HKSH-BV) to take stock of what the situation is in Germany for people with cancer or with a hereditary predisposition to it and their relatives.
Significant steps have been taken in Germany with the National Cancer Plan and the National Decade (NDK) against cancer. For example, the NDK, which will look back on five years of work in 2024, has launched the “Alliance for Patient Participation in Cancer Research”. In addition, the locations of the National Centers for Tumor Diseases were expanded from two to six. These help to improve research and care for the benefit of people affected by cancer. Across all diseases, patient rights have been enshrined in law for ten years and patient participation has even been regulated by an ordinance in accordance with Section 140f SGB V for two decades. The Digital Act has just stated, among other things, that the participation of patients increases the eligibility of projects in the area of new forms of care. So is there a satisfactory balance sheet?
Self-help has developed into a fourth pillar of the healthcare system. This is confirmed by Hedy Kerek-Bodden, chairwoman of HKSH-BV. In addition to the original task of cancer self-help – psycho-social care and advice from those affected for those affected in the spirit of “cancer patients helping cancer patients” – social and health policy advocacy is becoming increasingly important. This is the only way to achieve tailored medical and psychosocial care, social participation and economic security for the people affected. Through participation in committees as well as in research and care, the expertise of those affected – or in other words the patient evidence – is brought in. Kerek-Bodden emphasizes: “The lived experiences of those affected about the effects of therapies, the tolerability of medications or the feasibility of study designs in everyday life complement the specialist perspective and are invaluable.” She refers to the German Cancer Congress 2024, which takes place under the motto “ Shaping progress together” and which brings the topic of patient participation more into focus.
However, in order for this patient participation to succeed, framework conditions are needed. These included:
– suitable qualification measures
– Structures that support volunteer work – also in the sense of a service provider – and are available as service providers
– a nationwide contact and coordination point for patient participation, – independent, quality assured, cooperative and publicly funded
– appropriate compensation
– improved tax framework conditions and benefits for volunteer work
Those responsible in politics and health care are required to take the appropriate measures. Only then can fair and patient-oriented care for sick people and their relatives be achieved, says Kerek-Bodden.
For World Cancer Day
The World Cancer Organization (UICC) coordinates World Cancer Day, in which, according to its own information, almost 1,187 member organizations in 172 countries worldwide with 58 partner organizations take part. World Cancer Day will take place for the 24th time on February 4, 2024.
The House of the Cancer Self-Help Association e. V. (HKSH-BV) was founded in 2015 and brings together ten independently organized cancer self-help associations nationwide with around 1,500 self-help groups. They cover the cancer of 80 percent of the approximately 4.5 million people affected in Germany. The federal association and its member associations give a voice to those suffering from cancer, people with a hereditary predisposition to cancer and their relatives. They are committed to implementing their interests.
The HKSH-BV is a non-profit organization and is comprehensively supported by the German Cancer Aid Foundation, under whose patronage it is. It is independent of the interests and financial resources of the pharmaceutical industry and other healthcare companies.
Contact
House of the Cancer Self-Help Association
Bernd Crusius
Thomas-Mann-Strasse 40
53111 Bonn
0174-9750801