ESGO calls for coordinated EU action on gynaecological cancers in SANT Committee exchange of views

ESGO Calls for Coordinated EU Action on Gynaecological Cancers in SANT Committee Exchange of Views

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) highlights critical gaps in care and urges stronger alignment between women’s health, rare diseases, and cancer policy at the EU level.

On behalf ofESGO’s President Prof.AnnaFagotti, Vice President Ass. Prof. Maja Pakiz participated in an exchange of views with the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) on 14 May, calling for stronger and more coordinated EU-level action to address the persistent gaps in care, research, and policy surrounding ovarian and other gynaecological cancers. The intervention followed World Ovarian Cancer Day, marked annually on 8 May, reinforcing the need for sustained political and institutional attention to women’s health and cancer care in Europe.

During the session, ESGO emphasised that ovarian cancer, though classified as a rare disease, continues to be one of the most lethal gynaecological cancers in Europe. With more than 66,000 new cases and 42,700 deaths reported each year, it remains a major public health challenge. In fact, the five-year survival rates for ovarian cancer range from 35% to 43%, reflecting its poor prognosis. Contributing factors such as vague symptoms, late-stage diagnosis, unequal access to specialist care, and limited research investment compound the difficulty of achieving timely and effective treatment across the EU.

Vice President Pakiz showcased how the lack of screening and primary prevention for ovarian cancer leads to late-stage diagnoses and stressed the importance of BRCA genetic testing and risk-reducing interventions, as part of a broader women's health strategy.

Beyond ovarian cancer, Vice President Pakiz drew attention to broader policy and system gaps across the field of gynaecological oncology. Cancers such as endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer continue to place a growing burden on national health systems yet receive insufficient attention in EU cancer strategies. Preventive services such as HPV vaccination and population-based screening are unevenly implemented across Member States, while disparities in specialist training, clinical guidance, and access to innovation remain stark.

This is why ESGO calls for a stronger and more consistent European approach, one that recognises the challenges of gynaecological cancers. It recommends improvements in early detection beyond HPV-related diseases, sustainable EU-level funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), deeper integration of European Reference Networks (ERNs) into national pathways, and long-term strategies to address the oncology workforce shortage. ESGO also highlights the need for shared EU quality standards, improved data sharing, and benchmarking tools to support more equitable outcomes.

Building on ESGO’s strong role in this area, Vice President Pakiz emphasised the importance of developing a network of centres of excellence across the EU, which would ensure high-quality care, better oncological outcomes, and a safe environment for education and training.

She also advocated for investment in innovative research and the establishment of cross-border research networks to facilitate new clinical trials and improve access to novel treatments.

This participation in the SANT Committee reflects ESGO’s continued commitment to advancing women’s health and reducing inequalities in cancer care. By working closely with EU institutions and national stakeholders, ESGO aims to ensure that gynaecological cancers, particularly those that are rare or complex, are no longer overlooked in policy development and resource planning.