WHO EMRO | Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health hosts high-level dialogue to advance equity and innovation in women’s cancer care in collaboration with WHO | News

23 January 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Under the auspices of H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health convened a high-level dialogue today at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo. The event brought together national, regional, and global leaders to address one of the most pressing health challenges facing women in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region – breast cancer.

The dialogue, held alongside the 17th Breast, Gynecological, and Immuno-oncology International Cancer Conference (BGICC), focused on advancing equity and fostering innovation in women’s cancer care. It builds on Egypt’s pioneering efforts made under the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health, which has made remarkable progress in early detection, diagnosis, and integrated care for breast cancer since its inception.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with more than 130 000 new cases and 52 000 deaths annually. Egypt, with one of the Region’s highest incidence rates at 55.4 cases per 100 000 women, has been at the forefront of addressing this challenge through the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health.

“Breast cancer places an immense strain on both the economy and society. The WHO investment case on women’s cancers demonstrates that investing in early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment not only saves lives but also yields economic returns of US$6.4 to US$7.8 for every dollar spent. Let us work together to address breast cancer and remove the shadow it casts on our region. By strengthening cancer registries, improving referral pathways, and focusing on comprehensive, affordable breast cancer treatment – while sharing best practices with our international collaborators – we can create a dignified and healthier future for women.”

Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population of Egypt.

The high-level dialogue brought together stakeholders from leading international organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and WHO. Together, they explored Egypt’s achievements in improving breast cancer care and identified opportunities for replicating these endeavours in other regions.

The event also introduced the “Cairo Call to Action for Advancing Equity and Innovation in Women’s Cancer Care”, a draft document that outlines actionable steps to enhance equitable access to breast cancer interventions globally. Key priorities include:

Promoting a comprehensive approach to addressing breast cancer risk factors, including through health promotion and early detection.

Investing in health system development and establishing effective referral pathways, particularly in low-resource settings, to enable timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management.

Improving access to affordable diagnosis and treatment through localization.

Fostering regional and international collaboration to improve the documentation of good practices and promote south–south collaboration.

“Each of us in this room represents an essential piece of the puzzle – from global, regional, and national organizations shaping cancer control strategies to local champions and survivors. Together, we have the capacity to catalyse transformative action, not only for Egypt but for the entire Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond.”

Dr Asmus Hammerich, Director of the Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health has paved the way for other low- and middle-income countries to explore how innovation – when coupled with political will and a dedicated health workforce – can drive progress in cancer control while prioritizing the needs of marginalized and vulnerable women. By addressing disparities in access to care and fostering equity-focused approaches, every country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region can bridge gaps in health care delivery and ensure that no woman is left behind in the fight against breast cancer.

“The Cairo Call to Action represents a call for collective commitment to advancing women’s health outcomes, fostering collaboration, and creating a sustainable, equitable future for breast cancer care in the region.”

Professor Hesham Elghazaly, Head of the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health.

The outcomes of the dialogue will inform the finalization of the Cairo Call to Action for Advancing Equity and Innovation in Women’s Cancer Care. The Call will serve as an inspiration and provide a vision for collective action for sustaining and scaling up efforts to enhance equitable access to breast cancer care worldwide, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.