WHO: Pandemic is Dramatic for European Cancer Care

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The corona pandemic has dramatic consequences for cancer patients in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against this, which says that cancer care is entirely or partially disrupted in a third of the region’s countries.

According to the organization, the Netherlands was not spared either.

“The impact of the pandemic on cancer in the region is simply catastrophic,” Hans Kluge, CEO of WHO’s European arm, stressed in a statement. Because of the virus outbreak, it may take much longer to be diagnosed as having cancer.

This has consequences for their chances of survival. Some countries also had to deal with shortages of cancer medication, according to Kluge.

There are 53 countries in the WHO European region, including states in Asia. “In Kyrgyzstan’s National Center for Oncology, the cancer rate diagnosed in April last year fell by 90 percent,” Kluge writes.

The WHO wants to encourage authorities to focus on prevention and early detection of cancer. It must also be ensured that everyone can receive treatment. In 2020, 4.8 million Europeans were diagnosed with cancer, according to the organization.

“That equates to more than 13,000 people per day, 546 per hour and 9 per minute.”