Access to quality-assured cancer medicines in low-resource settings remains a critical challenge, leading to significant disparities in cancer care and outcomes. In fact, 70% of global cancer mortalities occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to essential oncology medicines and diagnostics is often severely limited. This stark reality underscores the need for urgent action to address the barriers impeding access to these life-saving treatments.

Recognising the importance of this issue, IDA Foundation is organising a plenary session titled "Disparities in Cancer Care: Practical Approaches to Improve Global Access to Quality-Assured Cancer Medicines" at the upcoming World Cancer Congress 2024. This session will take place on Tuesday, 17 September 2024, from 12:10 to 13:10 in Room Amphitheatre D.

The session will bring together a distinguished panel of experts who will delve into the existing barriers to access and share practical approaches and case studies from their respective countries and programs. These insights are crucial for understanding how to improve access to essential cancer medicines in underserved regions.

Meet the Panel

• Chair: Amy Israel, Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM), Switzerland
  Amy will moderate the discussion, bringing her extensive experience in global health and equitable access initiatives.
• Dr. Wilbert Bannenberg, Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation, The Netherlands
  Wilbert Bannenberg MD, MSc (CHDC) has over 35 years' experience in the field of pharmaceutical systems strengthening in LMICs and access to medicines policy development, including oncology medicines. He supported essential medicines programmes in several African countries, and also National Medicines Regulatory Authorities in South Africa, East Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Mongolia. Since 2018 he focuses on global equitable access to essential medicines at fair medicine prices using human rights approaches.
• Bart van Osch, IDA Foundation, The Netherlands
  IDA Foundation has been actively bridging the gap in access to medicines for more than 50 years. As Director Quality Affairs (QA), Bart oversees QA management in line with international regulations, while supporting IDA’s mission to provide access to medicines globally. He manages QA departments, audits suppliers of medicines and other health-related products, and offers guidance on quality, ethics and compliance. Before IDA, Bart spent over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly with MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) in various roles across the globe and at corporate level.
• Ms. Zuzaan Zulzaga, National Consultant on Medicines Regulation, Mongolia
  Zuzaan is a pharmacist with 25 years of regulatory experience, including roles as a drug registration officer, pharmacovigilance officer, and national consultant for the ADB Drug Safety Project in Mongolia. She co-drafted the concept paper for the Mongolian Drug Regulatory Authority, contributed to the National Medicines Policy and Medicines and Medical Devices Bill, and drafted technical guidelines and national standards. Founder of the Association of Mongolian Pharmacy Professionals, she gained recognition from FIP as an ExCo member of Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum of the FIP (WPPF) and co-authored the technical recommendation for Medicines Pricing Policy for Mongolia.
• Dr. Nazima Dharsee, Head of the Academic and Research department at Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Tanzania
  Dr. Dharsee is an epidemiologist and clinical oncologist based at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (OCRI), serving as the Head of the Academic and Research Unit. She is also a senior lecturer in the Clinical Oncology Department at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and co-chairperson of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Her clinical focus is in cervical and breast cancer, and research interest is breast cancer, focusing on early detection, improvement of outcomes, and survivorship.
• Sandra Nobre, Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland
  Sandra joined Medicines Patient Pool (MPP), a United Nations Public Health Organization focused on increasing access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries in 2018. With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including roles at Pfizer, Novartis, and as Senior Director of Global Business Development at Takeda, she has developed deep knowledge of the global healthcare ecosystem. Sandra holds a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, a postgraduate degree in Biotechnology, a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Corporate Social Responsibility, and an MBA in International Management. At MPP, she has been key in advancing efforts in HIV and other infectious diseases and securing licensing deals for COVID-19 oral antivirals and long-acting injectables. Sandra excels in multicultural environments and is committed to ethical practices and sustainability.

What to Expect

Participants of this session can expect to gain new and diverse insights into practical approaches to improve access to cancer medicines, which can be adapted to their own healthcare contexts. The discussion will explore innovative and actionable examples, such as pooling procurement and global partnerships, that have the potential to make a significant impact on access to high-quality cancer medicines in LMICs.

At the conclusion of the session, the panel will highlight the potential opportunities and impact that improved access to cancer medicines can have on reducing disparities in cancer care globally.

Join the Conversation

We invite all stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and advocates, to join this critical conversation at the World Cancer Congress 2024. Together, we can explore and implement practical solutions to ensure that life-saving cancer treatments are accessible to all, regardless of geographic or economic barriers.

Session Details:

• Title: Disparities in Cancer Care: Practical Approaches to Improve Global Access to Quality-Assured Cancer Medicines
• Date/Time: Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 12:10 - 13:10
• Location: Room Amphitheatre D
• Organiser: IDA Foundation

We look forward to seeing you there and to collectively advancing the global fight against cancer.

More information on the programme available here.