Tackling
Global health challenges
Cancer
Cancer
It is widely agreed that adequate cancer care needs an integrated approach which should entail working throughout the whole continuum of care, from prevention, diagnosis, to treatment.
There are still multiple barriers to overcome to improve cancer care, in particular, scientific challenges related to the complexity of the disease. In addition, cancer registries need to be strengthened to allow more adapted cancer control and prevention initiatives, including closing health infrastructure gaps. Further discussion is needed on how to define the value of novel interventions. Finally, regulatory standards and requirements should be further harmonized to accelerate access to cancer care.
While cancer is more and more present globally, approaches to its management depend on geographies, medical culture and socio-economic situations, including in-country situations. However, global trends could be identified in areas including registries, care management, partnership approaches to access and coordination and redistribution of means and resources, increased health literacy, and efficient palliative care. Also, a national cancer plan, including clear progress metrics, should be in place in all countries and should be regularly reviewed and upgraded.
The R&D-based pharmaceutical industry has a role to play in an integrated care approach. The industry is working on multiple levels, on adapting both R&D and access models to a rapidly changing environment which will face, in the coming years, a growing magnitude of the burden of disease and its economic impact in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).
8 million
people die from Cancer each year
There are 200
different forms of cancer
Since 1980, 83 %
of life expectancy gains are attributable to new treatments, including medicines
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