Respected colleagues, ladies and gentlemen welcome to the Scientific webinar entitled: “Towards Equity in Health Care - Updates from the CUPID COST Action”.
Today, we gather as researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and advocates to explore how we can advance equity in healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Over the past 2 and a half years, the CUPID network has been dedicated to identifying and addressing key disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment within the intellectual disability community. As we approach new milestones, we reflect on the impactful research, collaborative efforts, and policy recommendations that are shaping a more inclusive healthcare system.
Health equity remains a fundamental priority. A growing body of evidence shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities face significant challenges in accessing timely and adequate healthcare. The underdiagnosis of cancer, lower survival rates, and systemic barriers in medical systems highlight the urgent need for tailored interventions. Today’s webinar will provide crucial updates on CUPID’s ongoing work, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that no individual is left behind.
Our objectives remain clear:
- Strengthening research collaborations across Europe and beyond.
- Enhancing knowledge-sharing on best practices in cancer prevention and care.
- Encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to improve healthcare accessibility for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Throughout this webinar, we will hear from young research experts on topics such as:
- Recent findings on cancer prevalence in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Strategies for improving screening uptake.
- Policy recommendations for equitable healthcare access. Let’s make this a meaningful and productive discussion. Each presentation will last approximately 8–10 minutes, followed by a discussion session at the end where we welcome your questions and comments.
A study on cancer prevalence in individuals with profound and multiple disabilities (PMD) found that while overall cancer risk may be lower due to shorter life expectancy, certain cancers—particularly digestive tract cancers—occur more frequently and at younger ages in this population. This study reinforce the urgent need for improved cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies tailored to individuals with IDD.
WG4 Leader
