Cancer Policy and Innovation: From Early Detection to Equitable Treatment

Cancer Policy and Innovation: From Early Detection to Equitable Treatment

Time & Date: 14:00-17:00 Monday, 18 May 2026

Venue: Ballroom, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

Overwiew:

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and a profound global health burden, contributing to approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. A significant proportion of cancers can be effectively managed or cured if detected early and treated promptly. Consequently, scaling up early screening, advancing innovative therapies, and leveraging AI technologies have emerged as pivotal policy imperatives worldwide, alongside strategic efforts to address systemic barriers to treatment accessibility and affordability.

In Taiwan, cancer has persistently been the leading cause of death for the past 43 years, resulting in more than 50,000 deaths annually and placing a heavy burden on individuals, families, and society. Under the “Healthy Taiwan” initiative, Taiwan has launched the “Three Pillars of Cancer Treatment of Cancer Control”: Early detection through screening, Genetic testing and Precision medicine analysis, and establishing a dedicated Cancer Drug Fund. These measures aim to enhance patients access to high-value care and optimize reimbursement mechanisms, thereby advancing timely, equitable, and affordable cancer prevention and treatment.

Against the backdrop of the 79th World Health Assembly, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) will convene international experts to exchange policy practices and innovative experiences, with the goal of fostering early detection, equitable treatment, and multilateral collaboration. The forum will explore critical themes, including: enhancing the coverage and quality of cancer screening via digital health innovations; optimizing reimbursement and affordability of precision and innovative therapies; and building more comprehensive international partnerships to bridge the gap in cancer health equity. Through this high-level dialogue, we aim to catalyze collective action to alleviate the global cancer burden and secure a healthier future for all.