Many people go through experiences that leave an indelible mark on their lives and turn their course up to that point upside down. One such defining and shocking experience is the battle with cancer, which admittedly changes radically those who are faced with this disease.
In addition to treatments and adjustments to their daily lives, cancer patients were often faced with obstacles put up by various services that denied them the possibility of obtaining insurance coverage and taking out a bank loan. This was the case until recently, when Cyprus established the right to be forgotten, which now allows cancer patients to receive credit and insurance facilities regardless of their medical history.
Stella Kyriakides: “The right to be forgotten is about equality”
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In a written statement to CNA, EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides says that “despite huge advances in science, even today people with a history of cancer continue to face great social and economic discrimination.”
“Cancer patients can no longer and should not be deprived of access to financial services. Quality of life and equal treatment are fundamental rights of every patient”, the Commissioner underlines, adding that “with the European Plan to Fight Cancer, for the first time we have taken initiatives at EU level to precisely ensure fair access to financial services”.
“By working as a team, we will find the right and sustainable solutions, so that a large portion of our fellow European citizens can live without discrimination and unfair obstacles,” she says.
“To succeed, we need everyone’s participation. The governments, the health sector, the patient community and, of course, the financial institutions, as they are the key players”, indicates the Commissioner.
“The right to be forgotten is about equality and dealing with stigma and discrimination. We are determined to bring about positive change,” she concludes.
The obstacles before the establishment of the right to be forgotten
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Mary Perdiou, President of Europa Donna Cyprus, in an interview with CNA on the establishment of the right to be forgotten, explains that the agreement with the insurance companies concerns those who have experienced cancer and have passed 10 years since their recovery if they are over 18 years old, as well as those who are under 18 years old and have passed 5 years since their recovery. “These people will be able to secure life insurance, which they will be able to assign to secure a home loan. The repayment of the loan must be done by the age of 70, which also applies to the rest of the citizens”, she notes.
Asked about the next goal regarding the right to be forgotten, the President of Europa Donna Cyprus expresses her will for its extension, pointing out that “there are many types of insurance in which we do not want discrimination against cancer patients”.
Referring to her own cancer experience before the establishment of the right to be forgotten, Mary Perdiou tells CNA that, in terms of health insurance, she faced difficulties twice. The first time, she notes, she had a mastectomy and asked to be covered by the health fund of the company she was working for at the time. Then, she says, she was confronted with the argument that the surgery was done for cosmetic reasons. “I had to fight together with Europa Donna Cyprus to explain and convince that a woman who undergoes a mastectomy does not do it for cosmetic reasons but for health reasons”, which was achieved, as she says.
The second time Mary Perdiou encountered obstacles was when the insurance company of the bank where she worked denied her the right to low-premium insurance in the event of an accident causing partial or total disability. “So, I fought again to explain that I was not at risk or at a higher risk than other colleagues in the event of an accident resulting in partial or total disability,” she explains to CNA.
On her part, Stalo Stratoura, a civil servant, speaking to CNA about her own experience with cancer, says that before her diagnosis, she already had two insurances, a personal insurance and the insurance of her ex-husband, who worked in a bank. “Because of my work, I also had coverage from the medical and pharmaceutical services of the state,” notes Stratoura, adding that along the way she stopped her personal insurance.
“After my illness,” she says, “the dissolution of the marriage and the divorce came, so I lost the insurance I had from my ex-husband,” says Stratoura. She also mentions that she tried to take out health insurance, giving an advance of 1,000 euros, which the insurance company returned to her after 1 month and made her sign a form stating that the termination of the contract was of her own free will.
Talking to other women with similar experiences, Stalo Stratoura found that it was impossible for them to achieve insurance and get any loan.
Over the years, Stratoura says she realised that the issue was not only local, but involved other countries as well. “In meetings we had with officials from various countries, they assured me that the health issues in England, Italy, Germany and France were fully covered by the existing health plans, but the issue of borrowing was pending,” she adds.
Furthermore, she indicates that “the state and each service cannot consider that, because 5-10 years have passed, you have no problem with your health, but some other organisations consider that you are problematic and cannot insure you, i.e. they judge whether you are well according to the case”.
“An initiative of the insurance industry “
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In his statements to CNA, Evangelos Anastasiades, President of the Insurance Association of Cyprus (IAC), explains that the agreement on the right to be forgotten comes from a European directive which is included in the consumer credit act. He adds that the EU directive makes it possible to secure credit facilities for those who have been cured of cancer. “At the meeting we had last year on the issue of the right to be forgotten with the Minister of Health, Europa Donna Cyprus and the Association of Banks, the IAC submitted a 6-point proposal, which was fully accepted,” he says.
Asked about the possibility of expanding the agreement in the future, Anastasiades notes that “given that the agreement entered into force on January 1, 2023, it is still too early to talk about anything else’’. He also points out that the current agreement is valid for 3 years, after which it will be re-evaluated, adding that “then we will see whether corrective actions are needed”.
Andreas Athanasiades, Director General of the IAC, replying to a question by CNA, states that there are no figures yet on how many have made use of the right to be forgotten, indicating that “it is too early” and that “some time must pass, at least three months”.
Cancer patient organisations welcome the decision
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Maria Ioannidou, Executive Director of the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Association, mentions in her written statement to CNA the Association’s position that every cancer patient has the right to be forgotten. “The first step has been made to adopt the right to be forgotten and we hope that efforts will continue so that all citizens are treated equally,” she adds.
On her part, Georgia Orfanou, Marketing Director of PASYKAF, notes in her written statement to CNA, that “the right to be forgotten is a very important social issue that affects the quality of life of people with cancer experience and their relatives”. “The waiting period should be adjusted or even abolished depending on the type of cancer as is the case in Belgium,” she points out.
Source: Cyprus News Agency