Key Activities of GICR and UICC’s Role

Regional and national support

GICR provides regional training, technical advice and research support to registry staff. UICC has awarded four fellowships for ‘train the trainer’ workshops. Regional training employs user-friendly software for low- and middle-income countries, and tailored training on establishing and maintaining a population-based cancer registry, and site visits to advance progress. The data collected by individual registries may vary according to local needs and capacity. 

To facilitate this process, the primary objective of GICR is to establish ‘hubs’ – regional resource centres capable of providing local developmental support for population-based cancer registries throughout the region. 

The first hub, servicing Asia was launched in November 2011 at the Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai, India). A hub for Western Asia, Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa based in Izmir, Turkey, and a network hub for Sub-Saharan Africa will become operational in 2012. A hub for Latin America is planned for 2013. 

Advocacy

Political awareness and support is crucial to the long-term financial support of a PBCR. UICC-led advocacy at key global events such as the World Health Assembly aims to leverage the support for cancer registries articulated in the Political Declaration on NCDs to mobilise efforts in the regions with the most need. Publications, events, factsheets and technical support materials will reinforce this message.

Regional and national support is essential for impact in the longer term. UICC will work with GICR partners to facilitate a network of support for PBCRs at country level as well as providing a platform for improved dialogue between registries, encouraging them to become better advocates themselves. UICC member organisations will be encouraged to become involved at all levels as advocates, mentors, twins and national supporters. 

Sustainability 

While the first step at country level is to establish the gold standard of a PBCR, the next is to maintain the standard. Dissemination of registry led research and data is considered a vital factor for recognition of a registry’s value and thus its sustainability. Focused research projects led by the hubs will generate new findings to stimulate discussion and evaluation of cancer plans, engage local stakeholders but also provide UICC’s advocacy effort with renewed energy and messaging. 

Innovation 

Regional leadership will enable PBCRs to take advantage of innovative regional solutions through sharing best practices, links to regional research and programmatic activity. Early adoption of UICC standards for classification and staging of tumours (known as TNM) will be encouraged via a working group, as will exploration of new technologies and approaches to long-term funding models.