Virtual Dialogue: The importance of including AMR strategies in national cancer control plans

People living with cancer face a significantly higher risk of infection due to weakened immune systems caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical interventions, and frequent hospitalisation. Infections remain the second leading cause of death among cancer patients, and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) exacerbates this vulnerability by making infections harder and sometimes impossible to treat. Without urgent action, drug resistant infections threaten to reverse decades of progress in cancer treatment and care.

Despite this growing threat, AMR is largely absent from National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs). A global review of 98 NCCPs shows that only two make any reference to AMR-related strategies, and only two include infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. This highlights a major missed opportunity: NCCPs define national priorities for cancer care, shape resourcing, and guide clinical practice. Integrating AMR mitigation into NCCPs is therefore essential to ensuring patient safety, continuity of treatment, and sustained cancer outcomes.

This Virtual Dialogue aims to raise awareness on why AMR strategies must be explicitly included in NCCPs and how doing so will support national efforts to deliver safe, effective, and sustainable cancer care.

This Virtual Dialogue is kindly supported by Novo Nordisk Fonden. Grant number: NNF24SA0101658

 Speakers

To be confirmed soon.