The European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) together with the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) call for the World Health Organization to improve the draft 2017 WHO Cancer Resolution by recognising the importance of patients' organisations and the need for accreditation and certification programmes.

At the January 2017 Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization, the Secretariat presented a report on Cancer prevention and control in the context of an integrated approach. This report outlined the disease burden and trends in relation to cancer; national cancer strategies undertaken as part of national multi-sectoral efforts to address noncommunicable diseases that are proving to be effective; and WHO's activities, and other international efforts, to meet the global challenge posed by cancer. The Board was invited to note the report and to consider the draft resolution contained therein.

"While we appreciate what has been done, it is not acceptable that patients' organisations and other civil societies were not mentioned in the 2017 Cancer prevention and control report," says Prof Francesco De Lorenzo, President of the European Cancer Patient Coalition. 

"If Member States want to reach as many people with cancer as possible, they must work to foster partnerships between government and civil society, as stated in Article 55 of the 2011 Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases", highlighted Prof De Lorenzo. 

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