Governmental strategies for cancer control, prevention, care and management in Greece

The Greek government through the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are concerned about the increase in cancer cases and are implementing actions related to its control. The WHO produced a guide which is a response to the World Health Assembly Resolution on Cancer Prevention and Control, adopted in May 2005. This WHO guide calls on member states to intensify action against cancer by developing and reinforcing cancer control programs. The Greek Ministry of Health has established a strategy unit and relevant health policies. The need to act comes from the fact that 11 million new cancer cases are diagnosed yearly, worldwide. The most common deaths globally are from lung cancer (1.3 million), from gastric cancer (1 million), liver cancer (662.000), colorectal cancer (665.000) and breast cancer (502.000), yearly. Some cancers in Greece are more common. There are certain risk factors on the basis of which one can take preventative measures related to the numerous chemical, biological and natural factors in the environment. Recently, the Greek Ministry of Health organized a national plan of action against cancer. This starts with monitoring scientific societies and social groups and organizations in order to promote prevention as well as an improvement in the quality of cancer management. The targets are the collection of reliable information, primary and secondary prevention, effective treatment and a better quality of life for the patient.