As the “Golden September,” a month dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer, begins, the organization Acreditar emphasizes the urgent need to address “injustices” in the care of children with cancer.
The most recent assessment of issues in pediatric oncology conducted by Acreditar in 2024 indicates that families encounter an average monthly financial impact of 655 euros after a diagnosis, stemming from income loss and increased expenses, as stated by the association in a release.
Acreditar underscores the necessity of maintaining pre-diagnosis family income instead of the current 65%, allowing both caregivers to take leave during critical phases, and removing the cap of two Social Support Indexes, which significantly reduces the protection of many families.
“These changes are vital to ensure financial stability at a time when everything else is uncertain,” asserts the organization, which was founded in 1994.
Acreditar argues it is “time to act” on social support, healthcare organization, and addressing the needs of young adults with cancer, noting “worrying signs of pressure on pediatric oncology services and a lack of policies addressing the specific needs of young adults with cancer.”
“Pediatric oncology services are facing significant pressures, directly impacting the support available for children, adolescents, and families. The shortage of specialized professionals exacerbates the situation and poses a real risk to the quality of services in the future. Portugal needs to reorganize this area, ensuring resources are well allocated, dedicated teams are in place, and care is integrated with research,” it emphasizes.
The association believes that Portugal should learn from practices in some European countries and transform pediatric oncology into a pilot model for health system reorganization.
“Healthcare organization should be based on dedicated infrastructures, multidisciplinary teams, and the centralization of more complex areas to ensure quality and equity throughout Europe,” it states.
Emphasizing that no child, adolescent, or family should face cancer alone, Acreditar expresses regret that teenagers diagnosed with the disease “remain in limbo without adequate responses to their needs” and advocates for “planned transition programs for this age group, with personalized survivorship care plans and life-long support.”
As part of the childhood cancer awareness month and its 30th anniversary, Acreditar is hosting a series of conferences culminating on October 11 in Coimbra.
The association’s celebrations will conclude with a concert by Sérgio Godinho at the São Luiz Municipal Theater in Lisbon on October 25 at 20:00.
