On Tuesday, 30 May, health leaders from across the world reaffirmed cancer control as a critical health and development priority as they adopted a new cancer resolution at the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.
New is the emphasis on integration of cancer efforts across national health plans and the call for scale up of activities in line with the sustainable development goals. Four key drivers impacting cancer mortality by 2025 that are supported by the updated WHO cost-effectiveness recommendations for NCDs also approved at this World Health Assembly are:
• Early diagnosis programmes for cervical, breast, colorectal and oral cancers
• Development of partnerships, referral networks and of centres of excellence for improving the quality of cancer diagnosis, treatment and care services and facilitating multidisciplinary cooperation
• Training of health professionals at all levels of health care, and
• Strengthening of palliative care and promotion of cancer survivors’ follow up and rehabilitation.