Advocacy in Belgium and Europe

If curing all children with cancer were easy… we bet it would have been “solved” a long time ago. 

In the real world, making sure that better treatments reach patients in hospital requires a proper alignment of the stars.

The right regulations for drug development must be in place; public authorities must understand the problems patients face before diagnosis, during treatment and after remission; and there must be structured engagement with the pharmaceutical industry to show how it can help young patients.

This is why KickCancer has been an activist from the very beginning.

At the European level, KickCancer is an active member of CCI-Europe (Childhood Cancer International – Europe), an umbrella organisation that brings together member associations from across the continent. Delphine Heenen heads CCI-Europe’s advocacy team to help ensure EU legislation fosters better treatments for children with cancer.

We have contributed to: research funding through Horizon Europe, the inclusion of a chapter on children with cancer in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, improvements to the Clinical Trials Regulation, the European Health Data Space, the ongoing Pharma Package discussions, and the forthcoming Biotech Act.

At the Belgian level, KickCancer works closely with the Belgian Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (BSPHO) to ensure that the organisation of care meets patients’ needs.

Thanks to our work, since 2024, fifty medicines that were previously not reimbursed are now covered by social security — sparing families tremendous financial stress and doctors a great deal of administrative work. The organisation of care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is also improving through a project led by Sciensano and INAMI/RIZIV.

We are also involved in developing a new Belgian Cancer Plan.