WORLD> Europe
Sarkozy announces 750m-euro fund for anti-cancer plan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-03 17:28

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Monday to pour some 750 million euros (US$1,107 million) into a new national anti-cancer plan, which takes effect through five years from 2009 to 2013.

Sarkozy presented the fund during a speech in south port city of Marseilles about the anti-cancer plan 2, a successor of the first plan launched by former French President Jacques Chirac in 2003.

Related readings:
Sarkozy announces 750m-euro fund for anti-cancer plan World reaction expected to cancer research breakthrough
Sarkozy announces 750m-euro fund for anti-cancer plan Specialist engaged in cancer research
Sarkozy announces 750m-euro fund for anti-cancer plan Sex, alcohol, fat among world's big killers: WHO
Sarkozy announces 750m-euro fund for anti-cancer plan Alcohol linked to one in 25 deaths worldwide

The new input will be used to promote scientific research on cancer solutions and to ameliorate life qualities for cancer patients, Sarkozy said.

He noted tobacco and alcohol are major factors causing cancer but didn't speak out any specific restriction on the two main streams of public finance source.

Jacques Reynaud, the president of French Cancer Research Association (ARC) said the new plan input more money than the first, which spent 600 million euros and created the French National Cancer Institute in 2004 before it ended in 2007.

According to ARC's statistics, over 346,000 new cancer cases have been diagnosed across the country in 2009, and more than 147,000 cancer sufferers passed away in the same year.