Medical experts are calling for action on cancer, saying that it is not a 'disease of the rich' but a global health priority.

"There are clearly effective interventions that can prevent or ease suffering due to many malignancies, and that is surely our duty as physicians or policy makers or health advocates," he added.
Comparing cancer fatality rates between low- and high-income countries reveals stark disparities.
Fatality rates in low-income countries are 75 percent, in lower middle-income 72 percent, and in upper middle-income 64 percent.
This enormous difference in survival - particularly for many highly treatable and curable cancers such as cervical, breast, testicular and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children - denote the scope of action.
"As a person living with cancer, diagnosed in a developing country, I believe we must address this glaring inequity. Evidence shows that this can be done," said Felicia Knaul.
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Raise global awareness of the impact of cancer on developing countries, defining the packages of essential services and treatments, increasing access to the best treatment for cancer and evaluating successful service delivery models in different economic and health system settings are just some of the goals the medical community plans to work towards.
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"We have shown we can do this in the treatment of other illnesses, and we can and must do this with cancer care. This should be viewed as an imperative rather than as an option."
The paper is published online in the Lancet.
Source-ANI