On Friday 8 January 2016, Luxembourg Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch, visited the new premises of the Institut National de Cancer (INC), where she was received by INC President, Dr. Guy Berchem, and other founding members.
The INC was first established in July 2015 with the Ministry of Health as a non-profit organisation dedicated to the national fight against cancer. In its initial phase, it will operate as an independent health and scientific structure.
The institute is involved in several missions, including the coordinated organisation of oncology, care pathways, skill centres and local and national multidisciplinary meetings, as well as the development of guidelines and the certification of services providers.
During Friday's visit, the various projects embarked upon, as well as those to come, were presented to the Health Minister. The Institut focuses on guidelines in terms of certain types of cancer, with a view to ensuring their application in hospitals. The aim is to guarantee that people affected by cancer, regardless of their location, severity of the disease and complexity of care, are able to receive structured, standardised and quality clinical treatment.
Minister Mutsch stated that she was encouraged by the progress made under the 2014-2016 National Cancer Plan in the last six months.
"The Health Programme of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council took place under the sign of the patient and innovation, where technological innovation was (finally) considered as being at the patient's services," the Minister stated. "As personalised medicine, which was a major theme during the Luxembourg Presidency in 2015, is close to my heart, the INC is becoming a key partner in this field. It will help define our positioning and the milestones to make so we can move forward on this issue at the European community level."
She continued: "I wish however for all partners at the national level to be mobilised and involved, because I am still convinced that the key to success is the use of all synergies possible."
Photo by Ministry of Health (L-R: Lydia Mutsch, Minister of Health; Laurent Zanotelli, Commissioner of Hospitals of the Ministry of Health; Dr. Guy Berchem, President of the INC)
