ESMO regularly contributes to global health forums at the highest political level, highlighting issues that matter to patients with cancer and their carers, and sharing knowledge and tools that can support countries to enhance patients’ access to optimal cancer care.
Enabled by its ‘Non-State actors in official relations with World Health Organisation (WHO)’ status, ESMO was invited to make statements at the WHO 154th Executive Body (EB) meeting in Geneva. The statements:
- Highlighted the urgency to advance the implementation of the 2023 UN Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Member Sates so that cancer care for the entire population is included in UHC benefit packages.
- Urged the improvement of cancer services and optimization of resources to achieve equity in cancer care by using ESMO-MCBS, and implementing the WHO National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) tool, co-developed by ESMO.
- Stressed that HPV and HBV vaccines are an important and cost-effective long-term strategy for cancer control.
- Reiterated that health emergency preparedness and response planning must include strengthening of secondary and tertiary care levels, where patients with cancer are predominately treated.
- Urged the Member States to ensure alignment of air quality standards with the WHO’s recommendations, to reduce the incidence of lung and breast cancers[PFE5] .
During the 154th WHO EB meeting, ESMO’s Official Relations status was renewed for the next three-year period (2024-2026). The status is a privilege, that is granted only to organizations that contribute significantly to the advancement of public health.
The WHO EB advises and facilitates the work of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is the supreme decision-making body, composed of 194 Member States. ESMO will follow through the issues highlighted in the five statements to the EB at the next meeting of the WHA in May 2024 to continue to steer health policymaking at global and national levels.