On Sunday 27 August 2012, the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit got off a great start with the Honourable Dr. Colin Carrie, MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health in Canada and Dr. Oleg Chestnov form WHO and a special address from Sir George Alleyne of PAHO.

The Summit, which focuses on Planning for Global and National Impact, drew 200 attendees including 11 Ministers of Health and representatives from 17 Health Ministries in total. The morning opened with panel focused on improving National Health Systems through Cancer Control Planning, Implementation and Metrics and included the Health Minister of Tanzania, and leaders from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Natl. Cancer Institute of Brazil.  During lunch there was a press conference with global experts discussing the need to implement national cancer control plans.

On Monday during lunch, Dr. Julie Torode of UICC spoke to 10 global grantees at an American Cancer Society training about the need to integrate cancer and NCDs into national health and development policies.