Global cancer control: responding to the growing burden, rising costs and inequalities in access

TLDR

The global cancer burden is rising, straining health systems worldwide, prompting the 2017 WHO resolution to prioritize integrated cancer prevention and control. The authors aim to accelerate global cancer control by reducing barriers and ensuring high‑quality care for all, guided by national actions and policy recommendations aligned with the WHO Cancer Resolution. They propose a strategic framework from the 2016 ESMO Leadership Generation Programme that aligns with the WHO Cancer Resolution and universal health coverage principles. The paper outlines national actions and policy recommendations that, if implemented, could reduce the cancer burden, prevent suffering, and save lives.

Abstract

The cancer burden is rising globally, exerting significant strain on populations and health systems at all income levels. In May 2017, world governments made a commitment to further invest in cancer control as a public health priority, passing the World Health Assembly Resolution 70.12 on cancer prevention and control within an integrated approach. In this manuscript, the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology Leadership Generation Programme participants propose a strategic framework that is in line with the 2017 WHO Cancer Resolution and consistent with the principle of universal health coverage, which ensures access to optimal cancer care for all people because health is a basic human right. The time for action is now to reduce barriers and provide the highest possible quality cancer care to everyone regardless of circumstance, precondition or geographic location. The national actions and the policy recommendations in this paper set forth the vision of its authors for the future of global cancer control at the national level, where the WHO Cancer Resolution must be implemented if we are to reduce the cancer burden, avoid unnecessary suffering and save as many lives as possible.