The Minister of Health Mr.Michael Hadjipandela participated in the High Level Conference on "Care and innovation pathways for a European rare diseases policy" held today, Monday, 28 February 2022, in Paris.
Hatzipandela addressed the issue of Cyprus' national policy in the field of rare diseases, and expanded on the issue of the perspectives that exist at the European level.
Cyprus, he said, as a geographically remote member state of the European Union, manages all rare disease related initiatives as an important asset and tool, while hoping for the continued development of European initiatives to optimise cooperation between MS. The funding and sustainability of existing and new projects to develop further synergies for the inclusion of smaller Member States is an important tool in this direction.
The Minister referred to the main difficulties faced by our country in developing a holistic approach to the care of patients with rare diseases, which are mainly related to the small population proportion, the specialisation of professionals in several fields of rare diseases, geographical distance and financial constraints. For these reasons, he said, Orphanet as a European information base for physicians, researchers and patients in the field of rare diseases is particularly important for Cyprus, expressing, therefore, the desire to ensure its long-term financial sustainability.
The Minister of Health also made a special reference to the European Reference Networks, stressing their important role in bridging the scientific gap between MS and specialists in the treatment and management of specific rare diseases. As Cyprus, he added, we would like to see better mobilisation of more specialists, while developing educational training activities. At this stage, he said, Member States like Cyprus face some difficulties in participating in European Reference Networks, mainly due to the reasons mentioned above.
In conclusion, Hajipandela said that Cyprus wants to see progress in rare disease research, as well as finding solutions for a common market and supply of orphan drugs.
Finally, the Health Ministers discussed the recent developments in Ukraine and agreed to discuss ways to help the affected people at the conference to be held next week.
(AF)
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