Following a mixed ‘report card’ for Ireland from the European Commission Country Cancer profiles, the Irish Cancer Society is calling on the new Minister for Health to prioritise improvements in cancer care. In particular, it is calling for expanded screening services, shorter waiting times for cancer tests and treatment, and faster access to new medicines.
Every two years, the European Cancer Inequalities Registry publishes data on cancer prevention and care to highlight the strengths, challenges and specific areas of action for each of the 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.
This year’s report card for Ireland shows some positives:
- Ireland outperforms most EU countries in managing key risk factors for cancer, such as tobacco use.
- Alcohol consumption in Ireland has decreased and is slightly under the EU average.
- Consumption of fruit and vegetables is higher here than the EU average.
- The percentage of Irish adults engaging in insufficient physical activity, at 51 per cent in 2022, was significantly lower than the EU average of 70 per cent.
- Of those eligible for breast and cervical cancer screening, participation is higher in Ireland than the EU average.
However, there are many areas of concern:
- Ireland had the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses among EU countries in 2022.
- While Ireland’s cancer mortality rate declined significantly between 2011 and 2021, it was still higher than the EU average and the third-highest in Western Europe.
- While Ireland has a higher ratio of physicians and nurses per 1,000 new cancer cases than the EU average, it has a shortage of GPs, radiologists, radiation therapists and other key medical personnel.
- The supply of diagnostic equipment, such as MRI and CTI scanners, is significantly lower here than the EU average.
- Vaping rates among Irish 15-to?24 year-olds have increased dramatically, from 1 per cent in 2015 to 10 per cent in 2023.
- Irish patients have access to a narrower range of new oncology medicines than the EU average.
The report also warns that the cost of cancer care in Ireland is set to rise. Per capita health expenditure on cancer care is expected to grow by 80 per cent in Ireland between 2023 and 2050, compared to 59 per cent in the EU27.
Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “This comparative data highlights the sad fact that you are more likely to get and die from cancer in Ireland than in many other European countries. It must serve as a wake-up call to Government.
“Without urgent action, both individuals and the State face an enormous cancer burden in the coming years. Much of this could be avoided by tackling the delays in diagnosis and treatment that are Ireland’s biggest obstacle to improved cancer outcomes. When cancer is picked up early, it is far easier and cheaper to treat. Investing now in expanded screening services and reduced waiting times for cancer tests and treatment would lead to significant savings for the State in the long-term. It would also save lives.
“We must also redouble our efforts to stop people getting cancer in the first place. Four out of 10 cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes, like not smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and maintaining a healthy weight.”
