MADRID, 21 apr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish Cancer Research Association (ASEICA) and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) claimed on the occasion of Cancer Innovation Day a “clear bet” from the authorities and “adequate funding” for the implementation of personalized medicine throughout Spain.
“The development of personalized and precision medicine is leading to a revolution in the daily care of cancer patients. However, for it to reach its full potential, active policies are needed to promote its improvement and implementation in a way. routine in diagnosing patients. It is also necessary to lay the foundations for this new way of making medicine to be made fair and fully accessible to all patients. This requires active policies by central and regional authorities as well as adequate funding to support research in this field and its application in the clinical setting, ”said ASEICA President Luis Paz-Ares and SEOM President Álvaro Rodríguez-Lescure, a press conference on Wednesday.
The two experts agreed in emphasizing the need to bring innovation to the patient through a personalized medicine plan and precision, as neighboring countries have already done. “The incorporation of pharmacological innovation, diagnostic information of the associated biomarker and the care of patients with the specific drug in the service portfolio of our national health system makes the system much more efficient, more sustainable and more precise and less toxic treatment. We are dealing with who needs to be treated with what needs to be treated, “said Dr. Álvaro Rodríguez-Lescure.
“It does not mean that it is not done in Spain, what is not done is to have a coordinated plan as in other countries which, honestly, was very useful to transfer this innovation on an equal footing to patients. In this regard, it should be emphasized here that access to Personalized Medicine must be equitable, regardless of where you live or the hospital that treats the patient. This requires more research, a specific organization of work and measures that promote access for all patients, “Dr. Luis Paz-Ares explained.
For this, they insisted that “the development of precision medicine requires close intersectoral collaboration of various actors such as scientists and their scientific societies, clinical oncologists and with the assistance of both the Ministry of Health and all autonomous communities.” “This should be translated into national strategic plans that promote their implementation in full equity throughout the country,” said the SEOM President.
At the meeting, a video was presented in which the path of innovation in cancer was presented, from the beginning with basic research in the laboratory, continuing with clinical research in hospitals and culminating with the application of results to cancer patients, all explained with the intervention of a researcher. of a clinical researcher and a patient. The video also includes the testimony of a patient who saw how personalized medicine allowed significant progress in the treatment of her cancer.