Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) participated in the ‘World Cancer Leader’s Summit organised by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in Mexico recently.
The summit, held under the theme ‘Cities driving change’, was attended by a delegation led by QCS Chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al Thani and was opened by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in the presence of heads of State, ministers of health, city and industry leaders, first ladies, executives from UICC membership organizations and many other influential players from the cancer and health leadership community.
The meet focused on how to partner collectively and support cities in translating the global commitments in cancer prevention and care into national action by 2025.
The Summit was a major annual high-level policy meeting dedicated to furthering global cancer control, bringing together key decision makers from around the world and encouraging timely debate on emerging issues related to cancer. It provides a forum to secure a coordinated, multileveled global response to address the spiraling cancer epidemic.

Sheikh Dr Khalid said,”Our participation in this summit came within the framework of our membership in Union for International Cancer Control, which is one of the largest international institutions stressing the importance of keeping up with the international experience to develop programmes and future plans through participation in all internal and external events.
Participants called for greater response to the burden of cancer at all levels, especially as few of the four billion people living in cities today have access to high quality cancer treatment in high-income countries.

The summit included a meeting between Sheikh Dr Khalid and HRH Princess Dina Mired, president of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
Both sides discussed opportunities for Qatar Cancer Society to work more closely with UICC and engage across UICC’s convening, capacity building and advocacy pillars besides defining work plan for engagement at the World Cancer Congress in Kuala Lumpur with a primary role at the WCC in Oman 2020.
They also explore how to leverage national and regional networks in the global fight against cancer in addition to discussing other potential areas of collaboration.
Key objectives of the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit include raising awareness among leading decision makers to ensure cancer is a global health priority, providing a forum to exchange information and innovative ideas on how to reverse the cancer epidemic and ensure a sustainable response, defining compelling messages to support the global call to action against cancer, creating a force which galvanises politicians and policy makers and increases cancer’s visibility on the international public health agenda.