The new bill presented to parliament by Labour MP Amanda Spiteri Grech aims to end lifelong discrimination against cancer survivors in Malta by giving them a statutory “Right to Be Forgotten.”

The proposal will lead to more legal certainty after a defined period from the end of treatment, survivors would no longer be required to declare a past cancer diagnosis for employment and financial services purposes.

Under the bill, prescription periods are set at 10 years for adults (21+) and 5 years for those diagnosed and treated before their 21st birthday. A special review board made up of two medical professionals and a lawyer would decide on disputes over the last date of treatment and ensure consistent application of the law.

“This is a matter of justice and dignity,” Dr Amanda Spiteri Grech insits, arguing that once a medical expert declares a patient cured, that reality should be reflected in how society and institutions treat them. She told MPs that many survivors who have rebuilt stable, productive lives continue to face unfair obstacles, including refusals of insurance, inflated premiums, and barriers to credit, solely because of a past illness.

The bill draws on measures already adopted in several European countries, including Belgium, France, Spain, Romania, Italy, the Netherlands and Cyprus, where similar prescription periods typically range from five to ten years. Supporters say aligning Maltese law with these practices will remove unnecessary financial and social barriers and recognise the right of survivors to move on without lifelong stigma.

The measure completed its second reading, with contributions from a range of MPs, and has now progressed to the committee stage where its provisions and any amendments will be examined in detail. Debate at committee is expected to address technical questions raised about insurers’ risk-assessment models and the administrative operation of the review mechanism.

The bill once approved and turned into law would be a significant step towards ensuring cancer survivors have equal access to employment, loans and insurance, treating recovery as an end, not a lifelong penalty.

Author: Amanda Spiteri Grech MP