European Parliament and Commission

The Protecting healthcare workers from hazardouz drugs exposure – what can the EU do?

Tackling exposure to carcinogen, mutagen and reprotoxic (CMR) substances in both workplaces and the wider population is a core competency of the European Union. Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union gives the EU the authority to adopt legislation (directives) in the field of safety and health at work, in order to support and complement the activities of Member States. Recent amendments from the European Parliament to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive have mandated the Commission to conduct assess whether to amend this Directive to include hazardous drugs, including cytotoxic drugs, for the purpose of ensuring occupational safety of workers in healthcare settings. Tackling exposure to carcinogen, mutagen and reprotoxic (CMR) substances in both workplaces and the wider population is a core competency of the European Union. Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union gives the EU the authority to adopt legislation (directives) in the field of safety and health at work, in order to support and complement the activities of Member States. The European Journal of Oncology Pharmacy is a peer-reviewed pharmaceutical journal in the field of cancer treatment. The journal encompasses all the recent issues related to the role of pharmacists in the prevention and treatment of cancers under its scope. This includes basic and applied researches on the synthesis or extraction, compounding, analysis, stability, pharmacology, side-effects, and clinical use of anticancer drugs and adjuvants therapies such as antiemetic, analgesic, or complementary medicines.

With the kind support of Dennis Radtke and Cindy Franssen MEP (EPP Group), a parliamentary breakfast was held for all interested individuals and associations on 29 January 2020. Participants included oncology pharmacists, oncology nurses, representatives of the EU institutions and others.

The programme included

  • Current status and understanding of exposure to dangerous drugs in European health systems.
  • Past, current and forthcoming European initiatives to better protect healthcare workers. 
  • Means by which interested stakeholders can support attention and action on this issue.

European Parliament Brussels
European Parliament Brussels
Parlamentary breakfast meeting

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