Multisector Collaborations and Global Oncology: The Only Way Forward

Abstract

PURPOSE At the 12th meeting of AORTIC (African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer) in Maputo, Mozambique, held between November 5 and November 8, 2019, a special workshop was organized to focus on the need for collaboration and coordination between governments and health systems in Africa with academic, industry, association, and other nongovernmental organizations to effect sustainable positive change for the care of patients with cancer. METHODS Representatives from seven different projects in Africa presented implementation science and demonstration projects of their to date efforts in cancer system improvement including patient access, South-South partnerships, in-country specialized training, palliative care consortium, treatment outcomes, and focused pathology and diagnostic capacity building. Key partners of the various projects served as moderators and commentators during the session. RESULTS From across all the presentations, lessons learned and exemplary evidence of the value of partnerships were gathered and summarized. CONCLUSION The concluding synthesis of the presentations determined that with the broad needs across cancer requiring in-depth expertise at each point on a patient’s journey, no single organization can effect change alone. Multipartner collaborations not only should be the norm but should also be coordinated so that efforts are not duplicated and maximum patient access to cancer diagnosis and care is achieved.

Analysis of Cancer Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Quantitative Perspective on Unmet Needs and Opportunities

“…This data-driven assessment of cancer research in SSA is intended to support multistakeholder collaboration around unified objectives, just as multisector collaborations were endorsed by a special workshop at the 2019 meeting of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer. 30 Prioritization of research needs and subsequent support that may benefit from further cross-sector coordination can be informed by these SSA-specific insights. Synergistic data collection of research projects and implementation metrics, epidemiologic databases, and treatment outcome databases are all prominent needs in SSA.…”

The global challenge of cancer governance

“…Cancer collaborations include private institutions taking the lead in twinning, and those initiatives address specific cancers (e.g., childhood cancer), or provide resources for capacity‐building, training, medicines, technology, and capital investments (Blanchard et al, 2021). The Global Coalition for Cancer Diagnostics is a public–private initiative developing collaborations across diagnostic organizations, civil society, local innovators, and advanced start‐ups to support locally‐led cancer care initiatives in LMICs.…”

Lung Cancer Patients’ Conceptualization of Care Coordination in Selected Public Health Facilities of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Not only is good care coordination essential to optimize patients’ experience, but it has also been shown to reduce the future need for supportive care and improve psychosocial outcomes in other settings [ 13 , 33 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Effective coordination of care between clinicians, services, and health sectors throughout the patient journey is fundamental to providing high-quality care [ 15 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. However, quality improvement initiatives are hindered by the scarcity of accurate and reliable measures and/or tools for this aspect of cancer care.…”