MYRTO evolves: from information to meaningful navigation

The new version of MYRTO, Kapa3’s digital assistant for people affected by cancer and their caregivers, is now live.

This update is more than a technical upgrade. It represents another step towards a different model of digital support: moving from simply providing information to supporting understanding, guidance and navigation.

For people facing cancer, the challenge is not always a lack of information. Very often, the real difficulty is understanding which information applies to them and what they need to do next.

From information to the next step

The cancer journey involves much more than diagnosis and treatment. Patients and families may also need to navigate social rights and benefits, disability assessment, transportation, employment issues, psychosocial support and communication with multiple health and public services.

Information may be available, but it is often fragmented, complex or difficult to turn into action.

This is where navigation becomes essential.

It means supporting people to access, understand, evaluate and use the information they need.

MYRTO was developed with this principle in mind: transforming complex and fragmented information into guidance that is easier to understand and act upon.

What is new in MYRTO

The renewed version offers a more direct and accessible user experience.

Users can interact by text or voice, listen to responses, choose between Greek and English, and adjust text size. Suggested topics also help people who may not know how to begin or how to formulate their question.

Particular attention is given to the sources behind the information. MYRTO follows a source-grounded and human-supervised AI approach: Artificial Intelligence supports the retrieval and organisation of information, while reliability, transparency and human oversight remain central to its design.

Technology does not replace people

MYRTO is not a doctor and does not provide personalised medical advice. It does not replace social workers, psychologists, nurses or other healthcare professionals.

Its role is to reduce complexity, support orientation and help people move closer to the appropriate information, service or human support.

The same approach applies to caregivers, who often become care coordinators, information managers and navigators of rights and services. MYRTO is also designed with their needs in mind, recognising caregivers as an essential part of the cancer journey.

Accessibility, trust and data protection

At Kapa3, we believe that digital innovation is meaningful only when it remains accessible and inclusive.

For this reason, the renewed MYRTO places emphasis on plain language, voice interaction and features that can support people with different levels of digital and health literacy.

Users are also informed about the processing of their data and the use of Artificial Intelligence, with separate consent choices and the possibility to request data deletion.

Trust in a digital health tool is not only about the answers it provides. It is also about how it works, which sources it relies on and how it respects the people who use it.

“What do I need to do next?”

Perhaps this single question best captures the philosophy behind MYRTO:

“What do I need to do next?”

A person facing cancer should not have to know in advance which organisation is responsible, where the right information is located or which administrative process needs to be followed.

They should be able to express their need and receive guidance that is reliable, understandable, accessible and human-supported.

This is the direction of the renewed MYRTO.

From information to understanding.
From understanding to navigation.
And from navigation to the next step.

Find more :

https://kapa3-cag-rag-hybrid-deploy.onrender.com

 

10 December — The Right to Health, Dignity and Equality

On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — a landmark document of 30 articles affirming, for the first time, that every person is entitled to equal, inalienable and fundamental rights: dignity, freedom, equality, security, and justice.

The Declaration marked a turning point in history. In the aftermath of World War II, states committed to protecting the human rights of all people — not only civil and political rights, but also social rights such as the right to health.

The Right to Health — Why It Matters for People Living with Cancer

The right to health is enshrined in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration and forms a cornerstone of human dignity.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it includes:

  • access to quality health services

  • a safe and supportive environment

  • clear, accessible health information

  • equal treatment without discrimination

For people living with cancer, this right translates into timely diagnosis, dignified care, psychosocial support, and information that is understandable and tailored to their real needs.

Cancer Statistics: The Global Picture and Greece

According to the latest estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO):

  • In 2022, there were approximately 20 million new cancer diagnoses worldwide.

  • Cancer-related deaths reached 9.7 million.

  • IARC projects that by 2050, global cancer cases could increase by up to 77%, unless prevention, equitable access and high-quality care are strengthened.

Cancer in Greece

Recent data for Greece indicate:

  • An estimated 63,176 new cancer cases in 2022.

  • An age-standardised incidence rate of 529 new diagnoses per 100,000 people, slightly below the EU-27 average.

  • A mortality rate of 239 deaths per 100,000 people (2021), slightly above the European average.

  • The most common cancer types in Greece include breast, prostate, colorectal, lung and thyroid cancer.

  • Inequalities in access to early detection and modern treatments remain a significant concern.

Why These Numbers Matter

Cancer does not affect “a few.” It is widespread — with thousands of new diagnoses every year. But outcomes are not equal for everyone. Many patients and caregivers face disparities in access to early diagnosis, quality care, reliable information, and continuous support.

In Greece, thousands of people confront daily barriers: delays, regional inequalities, lack of supportive services, overly complex medical information, or gaps in the continuity of care.

These realities make the right to health — especially in cancer care — a critical human rights issue.

Our Commitment at Kapa3

At Kapa3, we work to reduce health inequalities and ensure that every person living with cancer can access what they are entitled to. Through:

  • Accessible and clear translations of medical information

  • Psychosocial support for patients and caregivers

  • Participation in EU projects promoting equitable health care

  • Public awareness and prevention campaigns

  • Collaboration with scientific bodies and health authorities

  • Actions supporting health equity for vulnerable groups

  • The Kapa3 App as a digital tool for patient support

Across all our initiatives, we promote equality, empowerment and respect for human dignity in everyday cancer care.

No One Should Be Left Behind

Human Rights Day is not merely an anniversary. It is a reminder that health is not a privilege — it is a right.
And this right must be protected in practice, through policies, structures and services that respond to people’s real needs.

We stand beside every patient and every caregiver. We continue to work for a health-care system that supports and respects everyone, without exception.

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3