Written Question No. 05562 from
Mme Alexandra Borchio Fontimp
(Alpes-Maritimes – The Republicans)
published in the JO Senate of 02/03/2023 – page 1496
Mrs Alexandra Borchio Fontimp challenges the Minister of Health and Prevention on the shortcomings of cancer prevention and screening policies.
Alerted by many health professionals on this public health issue, it now seems imperative that actions be taken to curb this scourge. Indeed, the increase in cancers – in particular of the pancreas – is the result of several causes, all identified by scientists, who have constantly warned of their worrying nature.
In addition to smoking, obesity, pollution or even diabetes, the aging of the population as well as the consequences linked to the management of the health crisis, via the cessation of screenings for a given period, have contributed to the resurgence the number of cancers. For example, pancreatic cancer will be the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030 in Europe and the United States. Increasing by 3% each year, this cancer thus caused the death of 5,790 men and 5,666 women in 2018 according to the National Cancer Institute.
The findings are overwhelming, political responses must be provided urgently. Policies for screening or early diagnosis of cancers must be strengthened to be more effective. Thus, while they are the main item of expenditure for health insurance, they nevertheless obtain only mediocre results. The players in the medical world have also repeatedly highlighted the realities of this failure: lack of support and insufficient deployment of prevention programs aimed at screening or vaccination. This state of affairs is further aggravated by strong territorial and social disparities since the results obtained are often lower than the targets and performances observed in other European countries.
Several avenues have been put forward by the hospital environment, such as improving the content of prevention plans or even the opening of a reflection aimed at improving the distribution of roles as well as the consistency of the actions carried out. Finally, it wishes to draw its attention to the need to better target the population at risk of developing cancer and proposes, for example, to financially encourage health establishments to promote prevention and screening actions.
It would like to know the Government’s position on the proposals made as well as the measures planned to increase the effectiveness of cancer prevention and screening policies.
Awaiting response from the Ministry of Health and Prevention.