More than 290 international, national and regional cancer organisations around the globe including the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the European Cancer Organisation (E.C.O) launched a Joint Letter on Covid-19 and Cancer on the occasion of the World Health Day, 7^th April 2021. The letter has been presented to the general public and media in an online event and it is being distributed to policymakers globally.

Coronavirus has brought suffering to all health systems but especially it has had a profound impact on people previously affected by other diseases, particularly cancer, in all countries around the world. It has consequently induced serious outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of current and future cancer patients, disrupting cancer screening and delaying or alternating cancer treatment.

“Cancer organisations are aware about the enormous pressure under which health care systems are nowadays. It’s necessary to address immediately cancer care in order to support governments in their efforts to help cancer patients globally. We are ready to work more closely with policymakers to improve the situation,” explained Jacqueline Daly, ECPC Secretary Board.

“With this letter, we call for policymakers in every country to ensure that patients can access diagnosis and treatment safely, to identify the real impact of the pandemic on cancer services and design services to mitigate this, and to resource cancer services properly and safely for the long term,” said President of ACCC, Krista Nelson.

The global campaign on the Joint letter on COVID-19 and cancer aims at bringing together relevant stakeholders and demand from governments to make a difference by stating  “I am committed, and I will invest in prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”

The Joint letter remains open until 21^st April 2021 for further endorsements of any relevant stakeholders including patient associations, academia, research organisations or industry. The initiative can be supported through this link.