The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) – Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic
We live in unprecedented times. Every day we hear about the growing number of people infected with coronavirus and the deaths caused as a result. Despite the best efforts of governments around the world, the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate. Countries with good health systems have struggled to contain the virus and their hospitals are under considerable pressure as a result. As the virus enters countries with weaker health systems, the results could be catastrophic, impacting the lives of millions.
The pandemic is affecting all UICC’s members and partners and concerted. The downturn in the economy, which we have witnessed across countries, will impact the funding of cancer organisations, research, treatment and care for many months to come. The impact of coronavirus may seem immense today, but the ripple effect will continue throughout 2020 and beyond.
UICC, as an international cancer organisation, takes its role and responsibility in global health seriously. This is a time when their support for the cancer community is more important than ever. They have now turned their attention to the support of its 1200 members, and are already planning new online services to help communities manage their way through the new challenges that have arisen as a result of coronavirus.
The UICC have therefore made some key decisions which they wish to communicate to you.
Firstly, they will not hold any face-to-face meetings or events in 2020.
• The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in 2020 will be cancelled – the next Summit will be in Boston running the 25th-27th of October 2021, hosted by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
• The World Cancer Congress, which was due to take place this year in October in Oman, will be delayed. The Congress is cheduled to run the 16th-18th of March 2021 and will be held in Oman as planned.
• A key role for UICC will be to connect their members around the world so that they can help each other.
Bringing cancer communities together is not simply about hearing from experts in the cancer field, it is a unique opportunity to share ideas, form new partnerships and most importantly, catch up with friends from around the world.
For that reason, the UICC has decided not to move to a virtual model for the Congress, and will continue to keep communities informed with all of the latest updates and news as the months pass.
** For more information on UICC visit their website: http://uicc.org**