Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Care & Control in the Developing World
Background Summary
There is increasing awareness in the world of the magnitude of the challenge that humanity faces with cancer. The burden of cancer -- measured by incidence and deaths -- has doubled in the past 30 years, making this disease the second most common cause of death worldwide. There is tremendous inequity in the distribution of resources for prevention, detection and care both within and between countries. As a result, for many cancers the probability of survival is largely determined by the level of income of the individual and household, as well as the country in which they live.
The most difficult problems often provide the greatest opportunities for identifying and implementing solutions. The Global Task Force on Expanded Cancer Care and Control in the Developing World, announced on November 4th at the opening of the International Symposium "Breast Cancer in the Developing World", seeks to develop strategies to address the rising global challenge of cancer, building on the success of initiatives and innovations on diseases such as HIV/AIDs. This global initiative, with HGEI as its technical secretariat and linked to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Harvard School of Public Health and the Harvard Medical School, will focus on developing and implementing strategies to improve the financing, procurement and delivery of affordable cancer drugs in a predictable and sustainable manner within appropriately designed service delivery models. Read more
Membership
