2021 World Cancer Congress

The Oman Cancer Association in collaboration with the National Oncology Centre of the Royal Hospital Muscat was due to host the 26th edition of the World Cancer Congress. The 2021 theme "The Way Forward" set the tone of the Congress to serve as a platform for the cancer control and NCD communities to move advancements in cancer control in the right direction. 

Over 3,500 delegates were expected to gather in Oman, where they will exchange best practices in an effort to make headway in the global fight against cancer. They were meant to share lessons learned from the challenges they have encountered, build on successes and exchange useful and innovative tools that have had a marked impact at a regional, national and global scale.

The 2021 Congress Programme was articulated around eight themes covering the full cancer spectrum.

Based on feedback from the last Congress, some new features were introduced in the 2021 Congress intended to enhance the delegate experience. Those included:

• The Cinema aimed to inspire delegates with the screening of powerful stories.
• The introduction of a dedicated theme room to draw greater attention to science-based topics.
• Increased time for networking opportunities in a warm and relaxed environment, designed to be more conducive to “experience sharing”.
• The addition of  short “Meet the Expert” sessions which will follow the already popular “Big Debates” and Plenary sessions
• Newly designed session formats to ensure participants are better engaged in discussions taking place on stage.
• A range of new and exciting activities in the Global Village. 

The Hosts had put together a memorable agenda of events so that delegates would leave Oman more inspired than ever.