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04 February 2014

Global Roundtable on World Cancer Day

‘Australia and New Zealand's role in the cancer and NCD Development agenda in the (Asia-Pacific) Region’

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On the occasion of World Cancer Day, UICC, Cancer Council Victoria and The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre held an invitation-only, high-level meeting, bringing together a select group of stakeholders from cancer and NCD organisations, governmental agencies, academic institutions and industry to discuss Australia and New Zealand’s respective roles in the cancer and NCD agenda in the region.

Discussion focussed on identifying the urgent priorities and the potential creation of a regional coordinated platform that contributes to the achievement of the global targets.

The panel included:

  • Professor Sanchia Aranda (Moderator) Member of the Board of Directors, UICC
  • Mr Todd Harper - CEO, Cancer Council Victoria 'The value of pooling resources: The Cancer Prevention Network as a working case study'
  • Dr Zoe Wainer - Deputy Director of Medical Services, Peter Mac - 'Fostering corporate responsibility in the public sector in Australia and the work of Peter Mac in Timor-Leste: A focus on prevention'
  • Mr Dalton Kelly - CEO, Cancer Society of New Zealand - 'Improving cancer and NCD outcomes in regional and indigenous communities'
  • Prof. Robert Thomas, OAM - Chief Cancer Advisor, Department of Health, Victoria, Australia  - 'The role of government in cancer control – Victoria as a case study example'
  • Mr Jonathan Liberman - Director, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer - 'Building legal capacity in cancer control in the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond'
  • Dr Paul Bates - Chief Medical Officer, Australia and New Zealand, Bupa - 'The role of the private sector in cancer control: what expertise and resources they can bring to the table'

The group agreed that Australia and New Zealand should play a lead role in cancer control within the Asia-Pacific region to help address the growing burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases in developing countries.

The region's cancer burden is expected to grow considerably over the next decade to nearly 6.5 million new cases per year, or an increase of 41 percent. During these important global discussions about the epidemic, Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper said the expertise and resources available in Australia and New Zealand should be shared with organisations around the globe.

"Many of our neighbouring countries have limited resources when it comes to cancer control. So it makes sense to take the significant learning and gains made in Victoria and consider how this could best be applied or adapted elsewhere to progress prevention, support and advocacy on behalf of those impacted by cancer in the Asia-Pacific region."

Participants included Ms Dale Fisher, CEO of PeterMac, President of the Cancer Society of Malaysia Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, World Medical Association Chair of Council Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, as well as staff from the Victorian Department of Health.

Progress from the roundtable will be reported back during the World Cancer Congress in Melbourne in December when more than 2500 cancer control experts and leaders in global health from 110 countries will gather.

Dr Somasundaram said such events were critical: "The region in which we are based is truly unique in that the cancer issues we face vary from country to country. That being said, we all fight a common cause and can therefore greatly benefit from the sharing of best practice and pooling of resources".

Member of the Board of Directors of UICC, and Deputy CEO at the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Sanchia Aranda also strongly supports regional collaboration.

"The Asia-Pacific region currently represents over 30 percent of all cancer cases so if our countries can work together on improving upon this, it will go a long way towards reducing the global cancer burden as a whole."

Last update

Friday 07 June 2019

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