News
18 October 2018

Hot off the press - the 2018 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit report

On 1st October 2018, over 380 global leaders and influencers from 68 countries attended the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event brought together a highly distinguished programme of speakers and participants to share inspiring examples of multistakeholder planning and action for cancer treatment for all.

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We are pleased to share the Summit report (read it online or download it here) as well as the photos of the event.

 

Over the course of the day participants heard from a diverse series of speakers, drawing on perspectives from civil society, UN agencies, governments, development organisations, academia, regional collaborations, and private sector organisations.

The format of the day looked initially at how national cancer control plans (NCCPs) should be the foundation for action in a country, and how these are being developed across different settings to respond to unique country and regional challenges. The importance of championing equity within every NCCP, given the disproportionate burden of cancer on the poorest and most vulnerable, was a key conclusion.

In the afternoon participants discussed and debated how to move from plans to implementation, hearing from examples from Malaysia, the Philippines, the UK and Ghana on how this is being achieved. All participants and speakers agreed that action can and should be taken in every country, but recognised that implementation models will vary significantly. 

The conversation culminated in a call to action from then UICC President-Elect, HRH Princess Dina Mired, who called on participants to join UICC’s new initiative ‘Treatment for All’. The initiative recognises the success to date in prevention and identifies four pillars to drive progress further: data for public health use, improved access to early detection, timely and accurate treatment, and supportive and palliative care.

The ‘National Activation’ aspect of Treatment for All works with UICC members to become Country Champions for Treatment for All and supports them in building a national coalition and advocacy campaign that drives forward action across the pillars. In her call to action, HRH Princess Dina Mired announced a call for UICC members to express their interest in joining the Cancer Advocates programme.

The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit is an annual event organised by the Union for International Control (UICC), in partnership with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The 2018 Summit was hosted by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) and supported by American Cancer Society, MERCK, Astellas Oncology, Canadian Partnership against cancer, Susan G Komen, Roche, Novartis, MSD, National Cancer Institute.

Last update

Tuesday 28 February 2023

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