Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides will participate in the conference of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and the Cyprus Oncology Conference during a visit to Cyprus between Friday November 11th to Monday November 14th.

"In Europe, around 2.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year - and this number is expected to increase by 25% by 2035," Kyriakides said ahead of her visit.

"We know that due to the pandemic, millions of cancer patients in recent years have not had adequate access to screening, which has resulted in delayed diagnoses. Europe's Beating Cancer Plan which is currently being implemented, along with the close cooperation of all stakeholders, can bring about real change and improve the lives of patients and their families" she added.

Kyriakides will deliver keynote speeches during the 42nd annual conference of the association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and the 4th Cyprus Oncology Conference which are being held in Limassol this year.

On Friday, the Commissioner will deliver the keynote speech of the conference of the Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries (EFPIA), titled “A New Era for Health Care in Cyprus: Embrace, Evaluate, Evolve”.

Following this, Kyriakides will visit the Karaiskakio Foundation in Nicosia, and in the afternoon will travel to Limassol to deliver the opening speech at the 4th Cyprus Oncology Conference entitled "Making Progress in Cancer Care through Research, Innovation and Inter-sectoral Collaboration".

On Monday morning, the Commissioner will deliver a speech entitled "Let's talk about equity, quality and innovation in cancer care" during the 42nd Annual Congress of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).