World Summit of Oncology Leaders 2019

World Leaders Summit in Oncology 2019

From October 15 to 17, 2019, Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) hosted the World Summit of Leaders in Oncology (World Cancer Leaders’ Summit – 2019).  More than 350 delegates from 80 countries took part in its work: politicians, health ministers, government members, first ladies of countries, members of royal families, leading experts in the field of health, science, representatives of non-profit organizations and the private sector. The Summit was attended by the President of ADIOR CIS and EA, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin and the Executive Director of ADIOR CIS and EA, Professor Elena Filonenko.
The Summit is organized by the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC, of which ADIOR CIS and EA are full members) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The World Leaders Summit in Oncology is the largest annual high–level policy meeting dedicated to strengthening global cancer control. The key objective of this event is to discuss the problems of the prevalence of malignant neoplasms, raise awareness about cancer, exchange innovative solutions and develop global responses aimed at combating cancer. This year’s Summit is dedicated to the theme: “Cancer and universal health coverage”, during its work the issues of the relationship between sustainable and human-centered health systems, and effective prevention and control of NCDs, ensuring equality in access to cancer care and setting priorities for universal health coverage were considered.
During the discussions of the Summit, the leaders came to the general opinion that the most common factors affecting the development of cancer around the world are bad habits: smoking, alcohol consumption and poor nutrition. Experts stressed that the driving force in the fight against cancer is the political will and willingness of the leaders of the countries to make additional investments in solving this problem.
According to experts, today 81% of the world’s countries already have a plan to combat cancer. During the discussions, it was also argued that preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of cancer and its early detection are at the forefront of key measures to combat malignant neoplasms (ZNO). “Let’s start acting right now,” such calls were made during the discussions, reports and presentations of the leaders of the Summit.
The President of the International Anti-Cancer Union (UICC), Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mayred of Jordan addressed a special message to all participants of the summit.  She drew the delegates’ attention to the fact that there are still countries in the world that do not pay due attention to the problem of fighting cancer, despite the fact that cancer ranks second in mortality worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. According to Her Royal Highness, the judgment of the leaders of the countries that the fight against heat is too complicated and expensive a problem is erroneous.  The Princess of Jordan stressed that the UICC is taking all measures to reverse this point of view.  “We prove that by investing only $1.7 per year per person on prevention and early detection of ZNO, countries can save up to $ 350 billion on cancer treatment by 2030,” she said.
Her Royal Highness announced several key approaches that should underpin the implementation of the universal access to health care program. Among them: a professional assessment of the current health care system and its financing, the need to strengthen the primary health care system, the creation of a separate team in the management structure focused on the long term, attracting “smart” investments by reducing inefficient spending, the introduction of higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, as the main factors in the development of ZNO.
The continuation of the summit was the holding of the VII Congress of Oncologists and Radiologists of Kazakhstan, which takes place on October 17 and 18, 2019 in Nur-Sultan. The congress is attended by practicing doctors, researchers, teachers of medical universities and leaders of healthcare in the near and far abroad. The official opening of the congress was attended by Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yelzhan Birtanov, President of the International Cancer Union (UICC), Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mayred of Jordan, First Lady of Burkina Faso Ajovi Sika Kabore, Chief Oncologist of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Director General of the FSBI “NMIC Radiology” of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin and Director of the KazNII Oncology and radiology, Chief oncologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dilyara Kaidarova.
During his welcoming speech, Andrey Kaprin stressed the importance of developing cooperation at the interstate level in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ZNO.  In addition, the chief freelance oncologist, presiding over the section “Organization of oncological care”, made a report on the topic “Organization of oncological service in the Russian Federation. Key goals”, in which he stressed that the fight against cancer is a national priority program in Russia’s social policy. According to him, the key objective of the program is to reduce the mortality from ZNO to 185 cases per 100 thousand population. The priorities of the development of the oncological service are to improve the early diagnosis of ZNO, informatization, routing of patients and sufficient provision of patients with therapeutic drugs.
Andrey Kaprin outlined the reference points of the oncological service, such as the training of qualified personnel, improving the quality of medical care and technical re-equipment. The academician also spoke about the three-level system of providing oncological care, which is aimed at ensuring equal and comprehensive access of cancer patients to effective and high-tech specialized medical care.  “The organization of a network of outpatient oncological care Centers, of which more than 500 will be built throughout the country by 2024, the development of digital technologies will make specialized medical care more accessible and will allow competently planning the provision of timely care throughout the Russian Federation,” the academician summed up.
At the end of his speech, Andrey Kaprin invited specialists to take part in the XI Congress of Oncologists and Radiologists of the CIS and EA countries, which will be held in Kazan from April 23 to 25, 2020 under the auspices of ADIOR CIS and Eurasia.

Press Service of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “NMIC of Radiology” of the Ministry of Health of Russia