Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, stressed the importance of the right to be forgotten in a speech earlier this week.
She pointed out that recovered cancer patients face discrimination from insurers as it is difficult to assess risks connected with the illness, the EC noted in a statement.
Kyriakides noted that insurers err on the side of caution in the face of these difficulties, which may result in unfair treatment of recovered cancer patients in the form of unusually high premiums.
She pointed out that the EC commissioned a study which will be used as a baseline for implementing new bloc-wide rules. The study gauges access to financial products and explores “how member states and stakeholders feel about national and EU-wide action in this area.”
“Fair access to financial products for people with a history of cancer is on the radar screen,” Kyriakides stated and added “it is a focus of attention in most member states, with patient and consumer organisations having raised it.”
Solutions available
She noted that several EU member states implemented solutions, which offers good models, pointing to regulations in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Kyriakides reminded that regulations vary across the EU, with some bloc members stressing that the issue is addressed in general anti-discrimination laws.
She stressed that this is not enough and asserted that the issue must be addressed specifically.
“And today, it is with utmost determination and our usual sense of optimism, that we are launching an EU-wide process to address the ‘right to be forgotten’ in all member states, as we committed under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan,” Kyriakides announced.
She stressed the importance of getting everyone on board, including government bodies, financial institutions, the healthcare sector and patients.
Kyriakides announced the EC will gather more evidence this year to help it establish the first EU Code of Conduct, noting that the body will cooperate closely with EU member states, patients and financial institutions throughout the process.
“Only joint efforts will enable us to make a tangible difference… we are counting on your continued support and commitment,” she pointed out and concluded that “working as a team we have possibility to collectively make a difference in areas that have not yet been explored at EU level.”
