From Our President - A Global Cancer Fund
Earlier this month, I travelled to Chicago for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). A real highlight for me was some excellent consultation on the prospects of establishing a Global Cancer Fund.
It's an idea that has been percolating for several years, modelled on initiatives addressing tuberculosis and malaria. So there we were in Chicago, in person or virtually, like-minded leaders in the fight against cancer, about 50 in all, from professional societies, patient groups, financial organisations, industry – from the United States, Europe, and far beyond.
I must tell you that after years of imagining this initiative, it was a powerful moment watching it starting to take shape. The focus, of course, is on low and middle-income countries – those suffering 70% of the world’s cancer deaths with only 5% of global cancer resources.
This first meeting was exceptionally disciplined: everyone was focused on how to work efficiently to deliver concrete solutions.
Applying seven specific criteria – impact potential, scalability, equity, cost effectiveness, feasibility, sustainability, and strategic fit – we reviewed various target areas for potential investment, including:
- Eliminating cervical and ovarian cancers
- Improving early detection
- Workforce optimisation and capacity building
- Expand national cancer control
- Market shaping and access
It was a highly productive exercise, enough to believe that this initiative has legs. It is practical. It is considered. It is workable. The true test, however, is whether it is financially viable.
To attract investors, it was discussed about creating a World Bank-managed multi-donor trust fund (MDTF). This is a well-established funding mechanism used by the World Bank to pool resources from multiple donors in support of specific development objectives, programmes, or countries.
We have much to do, but we’re on our way.
Full speed ahead!
With very best wishes,
Csaba
Prof. Csaba Dégi
