Half of colon cancer treatments are not financed in Spain

2024-03-30 13:31:01
Five out of every eleven (less than half) of the therapies against colon and rectal cancer recommended by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) have full public financing in Spain, according to the Oncoindex report, whose data has been updated by the Alivia Foundation, coinciding with the celebration, tomorrow, of World Colon Cancer Day. According to the data handled by the report, financing of treatments for colon and rectal tumors is below the general average for all cancer therapies (50 vs. 54). For the Alivia Foundation, created to support and accompany people suffering from cancer, the decline that these substances are suffering in recent years is worrying: in 2021, 80 percent were paid for by the State compared to 50 percent currently. According to the Oncoindex report, consulted by ABC, among the unfunded treatments against colon and rectal cancer is Ramucirumab in combination with Flofiri; Encorafenib combined with Cetuximab, or Ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab. Related News standard No Castilla y León extends colorectal cancer screening to 74 years ABC standard No FORUM ABC HEALTH Experience, talent, technology and information, the best weapons against colon cancer Colon and rectal cancers are the most diagnosed in Spain. In 2023, 42,459 new cases were diagnosed, according to data from the Spanish Association against Cancer. Its progression has not stopped growing and its incidence is increasing in the age group under 50 years of age. It affects men more than women and represents almost 15% of all tumors diagnosed last year. For Asensio Rodríguez, director of the Alivia Foundation in Spain, the Oncoindex data should lead us to reflect on “the process of public financing of treatments for the most prevalent cancer in our country. Not only is it not experiencing progress, but it is clearly in decline. «The treatments for colon and rectal cancer recommended by ESMO have proven effective and are already being used in other countries. If these treatments were available, cure rates would increase in our country and the quality of life of many patients would improve. “Why doesn’t the Government take any measures to accelerate its financing?” adds Rodríguez. In order to resolve this situation and for the Government to finance 100% of the treatments recommended by ESMO for colon and rectal cancer and for all tumors, the Alivia Foundation has been carrying out a signature collection open to all since last year. all citizens from their website. In this petition, Alivia asks the responsible bodies to “provide rapid diagnostic tests and that all drugs in the fight against cancer recommended by ESMO are available in Social Security.” The Oncoindex is an indicator that is based, first of all, on drugs registered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) during the last 15 years. Among these authorized medications, Oncoindex shows a list of treatments with proven effectiveness included in the ESMO recommendations.
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