World Health Organization / United Nations

ESMO is proud to collaborate at the highest political levels with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) on issues related to cancer prevention and control. ESMO has been supporting and promoting WHO’s global initiatives since 2002, and was recognized for its efforts in 2013 when ESMO was granted ‘official relations status’ by the WHO. Based on this status, WHO invites ESMO to participate in WHO meetings, to provide technical advice on WHO projects, and to make official statements that are delivered to all Member States.

With cancer high on global, European and national agendas, ESMO is uniquely positioned to make the voice of medical oncologists heard across the world.

ESMO regularly attends WHO meetings, as well as UN High-Level Meetings related to cancer. ESMO supported the adoption of many WHO resolutions on topics such as improved access to palliative care, increased access to cancer medicines and vaccines, the reduction in premature deaths from cancer by 25% by 2025 and by 33% by 2030, the protection of healthcare workers and cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the achievement of universal health coverage by 2030.