UICC to represent members’ voices at the World Health Assembly (WHA)

The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) is convening in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 May to 1 June 2024. It will bring together international delegates to address some of the most pressing global health issues, including pandemic preparedness and cancer control. UICC will be present as usual, to represent its members in advocating for cancer to remain a priority on the global health agenda.

This year’s assembly will discuss a proposed pandemic accord, a legally binding agreement aimed at enhancing global health emergency responsiveness. For the cancer community, this is a critical opportunity to ensure that cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care remain robust as part of essential health services during a global crisis.

The agenda of the World Health Organization (WHO) is shaped by its 14th General Programme of Work (GPW), which the WHA will be adopting. The GPW outlines strategic priorities across six pillars, including health determinants, health service coverage, and climate change. These are particularly relevant for the cancer community, as they cover the critical areas of primary healthcare and essential health system capacities, financial protection, and the intersection of health and cancer with air pollution, climate change and emergency health situations. UICC has provided feedback on earlier drafts of the GPW and participated in consultations with non-state actors.

UICC’s involvement extends beyond participation in high-level discussions. It is also actively organising two side events focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a significant threat to effective cancer treatment, and lung cancer.

The side event on AMR will take place on 30 May 2024 in Geneva. It is organised in collaboration the Norwegian Cancer Society, the Swedish Cancer Society, and ReAct and aims to highlight innovative approaches to AMR, promote collaborative networks, and secure commitments from key stakeholders for concrete actions and adequate funding to implement national plans on AMR. It will concentrate on building stronger systems for surveillance, sustainable access to antibiotics, and the rational use of diagnostics.

A recent UICC Virtual Dialogue on AMR held on 25 April provided an essential platform for further discussion at the World Health Assembly, focusing on the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on cancer care. The meeting addressed the significant risk infections pose to cancer patients and the necessity for enhanced data collection and surveillance to inform policymaking.

The side-event on lung cancer, the leading cause of death due to cancer worldwide, is a working lunch called ‘Protecting our lungs: Implementing strategies for lung cancer prevention, screening and care’. It is organised on 31 May 2024 to coincide with World No Tobacco Day. Participants will include country representatives, civil society organisations and international experts and aims to foster dialogue on the prevention of lung cancer as well as effective screening and management.