Commission’s study shows how to help cancer patients and persons with a history of cancer to remain in and return to work

Today, the Commission has published a study that maps policies and good practices in the EU and EEA/EFTA that help cancer patients and those with a history of cancer to remain in and return to work. This study is one of the key deliverables of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to support job retention and return to work for cancer patients and survivors.

The study presents several recommendations to address gaps, obstacles and remaining challenges, such as the need to expand and strengthen national policy and rules to include more cancer-specific measures, to reinforce monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and increase awareness-raising. Among the key findings is the current lack of dedicated national legislative frameworks for job retention and/or reintegration specifically for cancer patients and survivors in many countries. However, the study also found that many organisations have supporting measures in place, and some countries have more general policies to support persons with chronic diseases or disabilities. The report’s findings come after broad consultation with stakeholders. It includes factsheets on the situation for each country and good practices identified.

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “This study focuses on the need to improve the quality of life for those whose lives have been touched by cancer, one of the key action areas of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. It shows that although we have achieved significant progress in terms of cancer survival rates, many challenges remain in managing daily life with cancer. We must break the stigma that may affect persons touched by this disease and protect the right to return to work, to stay employed and ensure there is no discrimination. This is the beginning of the conversation: we will now analyse the results and encourage stakeholders to engage in discussions on how to turn the challenges of today into opportunities for tomorrow.”

More information

• Study on job retention and return to work for cancer patients and survivors