2011 World Cancer Leaders' Summit

UICC and its partners, the Irish Cancer Society, World Economic Forum and World Health Organization hosted the 2011 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit on November 18, 2011 at the Mansion House in Dublin, Ireland.

The Summit was attended by Dr. James Reilly, Minister of Health of Ireland. Summit sponsors included several UICC member organisations, such as the American, Norwegian and South African Cancer Societies, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, the European School of Oncology and Macmillan Cancer Support.

2011 has become a critical year in the international health arena. Since the announcement of the UN Summit on NCDs, UICC and its partners have been working closely with UN officials to ensure that cancer is duly prioritised in the UN Summit deliberations and in any resolutions emanating from the event. The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit was therefore organised shortly after the UN Summit on NCDs in order to quickly develop a broad-based action plan for cancer based on the outcomes of the meeting.

The theme of this year’s Summit − From Resolution to Action – reflected the urgent need to ensure swift implementation of key recommendations resulting from the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs, which was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to significantly impact global cancer control by ensuring that cancer and other non-communicable diseases are prioritised within national budgets and international health agendas.

The day provided an opportunity to hear from key experts and advocates from around the world that are contributing to increasing visibility of cancer control within the international policy arena, and what the Political Declaration of the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs means from different perspectives, including those of Ministries of Health, UICC Member Organisations and other civil society partners.

The announcement session in the afternoon underscored the importance of committing to concrete actions and effective interventions to reducing the global cancer burden.

Several side events were also organised the day prior to the event, including a Welcome Reception and Dinner showcasing Ireland’s National Cancer Control Programme.