UICC International Session: What are the implications of sharing the concept of Universal Health Coverage for cancer in Asia?

The Japan National Committee for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and UICC - Asia Regional Office organized an international session as part of the 74th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association on the topic "What are the implications of sharing the concept of Universal Health Coverage for cancer in Asia?" Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is included in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and aims to ensure that all people can receive high-quality medical services, are protected from public health risks, and are prevented from falling into poverty due to medical costs or loss of income arising from illness. The session discussed the growing cost of cancer and the challenges that this poses to the establishment and deployment of UHC in the Asian region, where countries face budgetary and other systemic constraints in tackling and controlling cancer. It was noted how sharing concepts on UHC will assist mutual learning among Asian countries and help in the formation of guidelines that can be adapted to national and regional realities. Presentations included a status report on UHC for cancer control in Thailand, and a report from the WHO Kobe Centre concerning prospects for collaborative research on UHC. Also discussed were the current status of cancer burden and control in China and Korea and Japan's progress in systemizing cost-effectiveness evaluation. The final presentation highlighted the importance of gathering social and economic data across Asia in order to build a picture of commonalities and differences in the region.

Roundtable discussion at the UICC World Cancer Congress: looking toward the realization of universal health coverage for cancer in Asia.

The Japan National Committee for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and UICC-Asia Regional Office (ARO) organized a Roundtable Discussion as part of the official program of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. The theme for the Roundtable Discussion was - Looking Toward the Realization of Universal Health Care (UHC) for Cancer in Asia - and it was held on December 5, 2014. The meeting was held based on the recognition that although each country may take a different path towards the realization of UHC, one point that is common to all is that cancer is projected to be the most difficult disease to address under the goals of UHC and that there is, therefore, an urgent and pressing need to come to a common understanding and awareness with regard to UHC concepts that are a priority component of a post-MDG development agenda. The presenters and participants addressed the issue of UHC for cancer in Asia from their various perspectives in academia and international organizations. Discussions covered the challenges to UHC in Asia, collaborative approaches by international organizations, the need for uniform and relevant data, ways to create an Asia Cancer Barometer that could be applied to all countries in Asia. The session concluded with the recognition that research on UHC in Asia should continue to be used as a tool for cancer cooperation in Asia and that the achievement of UHC would require research and input not only from the medical community, but from a broad sector of society in a multidisciplinary approach. Discussions on this issue will continue towards the Asia-Pacific Cancer Conference in Indonesia in August 2015.