15-6-2023 (ROME) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged that Italy will pass a law on the “right to be forgotten” (RTBF) specifically for cancer survivors. The move aims to protect recovering patients from facing discrimination by banks or insurance companies based on their health history.
Campaigners estimate that there are over 900,000 cancer survivors in Italy who may encounter difficulties when applying for insurance, loans, or adoption due to their previous medical condition.
In a statement, Meloni expressed her government’s careful consideration of draft laws regarding the RTBF. She assigned Health Minister Orazio Schillaci the task of monitoring the progress of these laws through parliament and providing necessary support.
“Our goal is to enact a law as quickly as possible that can address a very real problem, which significantly impacts the lives of many Italians,” stated the prime minister.
The proposed legislation would enable cancer patients in recovery to withhold information about their past condition from financial institutions and adoption authorities, provided that 5-10 years have elapsed since the conclusion of their medical treatment.
According to the Italian Medical Oncology Association (AIOM), similar laws already exist in France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal. AIOM is actively campaigning for this reform in Italy.
