"The members of the Transforming Breast Cancer Together initiative welcome the efforts and collaboration by EU Member States and the EU institutions in managing a coordinated and effective response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In these unprecedented times of uncertainty, we salute the enormous efforts by healthcare professionals and other health systems workers in working tirelessly, putting their own lives and of their loved ones at risk, to tackle the outbreak and provide the best possible care to EU citizens. We are all united in this global fight against the new coronavirus and we call for the highest level of global, European, national, regional and individual cooperation.
The COVID-19 outbreak also poses a direct threat to Europeans’ lives by disrupting the continuity and quality of care in other disease areas. As a multi-stakeholder initiative deeply committed to improving breast cancer care in Europe, along the entire pathway, we would like to underline the important issues which the outbreak of COVID-19 creates for breast cancer patients. In doing so, we aim to support the outstanding work currently done in Europe by all competent authorities and make sure that all patients affected by serious conditions, such as breast cancer, are protected and their needs are addressed in an appropriate manner. In these difficult times, it is crucial to ensure that those affected by breast cancer can access safe and quality procedures throughout the whole care pathway, from early diagnosis to treatment."
