Innovative Journal Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2589-9031 4 3 2021 3 10 Europe’s beating cancer plan & citizens’ engagement – The Manifesto for the right to personalized medicine for cancer patients 1 Mariano Votta Director Active Citizenship Network, c/o Cittadinanzattiva APS, Via Cereate 6, 00183 Rome, Italy Valeria Fava Responsible for the "Civic Observatory on federalism in Healthcare" at Cittadinanzattiva APS. Via Cereate, 6 - 00183 Rome (Italy). Maira Cardillo Community & Fellowship Assistant at Active Citizenship Network. Via Cereate, 6 - 00183 Rome (Italy). Journal Article https://doi.org/10.15520/jmrhs.v4i3.325 Abstract As we advance Personalized Healthcare (PHC) across Europe, also thanks to the EU Commission initiatives, such as the Europe’s beating cancer plan and the development of the European Reference Networks (ERNs), it is critical not to lose sight of the patient, and to ensure that PHC is made safe, accessible, and affordable to all: every patient has the right to be treated with the best technology for their specific disease based on their specific situation. Technological developments, the basis of personalized medicine, have made available for many patients new diagnostic and therapeutic options that have often led to a better therapeutic adherence to treatment and a better quality of life. In order to allow personalized medicine to develop its full potential in the coming years in Italy and in the rest of the EU, many challenges will have to be faced within the healthcare sector. From the point of view of civic and patient associations, in the face of changing scenarios, it is essential that citizens are aware of this, know how to assert their rights and are vigilant and the first actors of change. In this context, the “Manifesto for the right to personalized medicine for cancer patients”, wants to intervene in support of patients suffering from cancer, providing an in-depth analysis of the opportunities that the approach to personalized medicine today can represent. Launched in Italy in July 2020 by Cittadinanzattiva, the Manifesto is now brought to the attention of European Institutions, in particular the MEP Interest Group “European Patients’ Rights and Cross-Border Healthcare” by Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO. The Manifesto for the right to personalized medicine for cancer patients, https://www.cittadinanzattiva.it/files/progetti/salute/MEDICINA_PERSONALIZZATA_MANIFESTO.pdf https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/co_operation/mobility/docs/health_services_co108_en.pdf Manifesto per il diritto alla medicina personalizzata per i pazienti oncologici, oggi la presentazione, https://www.cittadinanzattiva.it/comunicati/salute/13427-manifesto-per-il-diritto-alla-medicina-personalizzata-per-i-pazienti-oncologici-oggi-la-presentazione.html Affordable and sustainable patient access to personalized” by European Alliance for, https://www.euapm.eu/access-policy-papers.html Personalized medicine: radical changes for a better health care in Europe”. Recommendations of the Italian Alliance for Personalized Medicine (IAPM), https://www.euapm.eu/pdf/EAPM_MANIFESO_-_MEDICINA_PERSONALIZZATA_-_CAMBIAMENTI_RADICALI_PER_UNASSISTENZA_SANITARIA_MIGLIORE_IN_EUROPA.pdf Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011L0024 The idea to encourage a MEPs informal Interest Group focused on patients’ rights follows the widespread request of more than 80 civic and patient organizations sent to the EU Parliament to recognize officially the value of citizens’ initiatives, such as the European Charter of Patients’ Rights, based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the European Patients’ Rights Day, which has been organized every year on April 18th since 2007 at local, national and EU level, http://www.interestgroup.activecitizenship.net/ European Reference Networks are virtual networks involving healthcare providers across Europe. They aim to tackle complex or rare diseases and conditions that require highly specialised treatment and a concentration of knowledge and resources. There are 24 ERNS involving 25 European countries included Norway, over 300 hospitals with over 900 healthcare units and covering all major disease groups, http://ec.europa.eu/health/ern/policy_en