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GCR’s Impact at World Cancer Congress 2024: Highlighting two major initiatives

The Global Coalition for Radiotherapy (GCR) was honored to participate in and be among the 2,000+ attendees at the UICC World Cancer Congress this year.  The conference provided a platform to explore global solutions for addressing critical challenges within the cancer community, and GCR contributed to the discussions by sharing important presentations on: The GCR Radiotherapy (RT) Essential Standards and The Radiotherapy Task Force.


Darien Laird presenting at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2024
Global Radiotherapy Community Develops Cancer Plan Framework for Advocacy Use

Birgit Fleurent, Deputy Chair of the GCR Board provided an overview of the GCR, and delivered a presentation on the GCR RT Essential Standards.  She identified the background and context for this project with some startling facts about access to radiotherapy.  She shared that in the 27 EU member countries, only 12 have an up-to-date cancer plan, and only a fraction of these, if any, include radiotherapy.



Because of this context, GCR developed their vision for universal and equitable access to quality radiotherapy.  The GCR facilitated a discussion to create a framework of key RT elements that should be considered as critical when developing or updating a National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) as well as implementing radiotherapy in facilities.  The five key components of the framework are:

  • Training and Technical Support

  • Quality and Safety

  • Maintenance and Service

  • Data and Monitoring

  • Advocacy


Implementation of these GCR RT Essential standards is designed to be adaptable to local situations and needs, specifically keeping in mind underserved populations.

Birgit Fleurent speaking at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2024

Get involved in this work and join the GCR.  Contribute to this project by providing feedback on the GCR RT Essential Standards.


Global Coalition for Radiotherapy Launches Emergency Response Task Force

Darien Laird, GCR Executive Director helped give a voice to those battling cancer under the catastrophic atmosphere of humanitarian crises: war, pandemic, or environmental disasters.  Her presentation included information about GCR’s Radiotherapy Task Force.


This task force was established 15 Mar 2022 to support Ukraine by request of the World Health Organization (WHO).  The aim was to: collate needs, guide solutions, respond as a collaborative network, improve access and outcomes for patients and medical communities in crisis.


Through regular virtual meetings, the GCR connected volunteers, hospitals and industry to share data, ensuring patients had access to care within Ukraine or those displaced refugees could access care in neighboring EU countries.


“We are advocating for radiotherapy to be considered in national cancer control plans and emergency response plans. We must not forget these patients.  Our cancer community needs to continue to come together to advocate for these patients. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, deserve access to this life-saving treatment.” - Darien Laird

Darien Laird, WCC 2024

We invite you to join our Radiotherapy Task Force by signing up on our Contact page and indicating your interest in participating. 


You can also register for our upcoming webinar on Tue, Oct 22 12:30-1:30 BST / 7:30-8:30 ET to learn more about the radiotherapy inequities in the Israel-Palestine region.


A Full Week of Events

Alongside these important presenting opportunities, the GCR hit major milestones during the UICC biennial congress:


New Partnerships 

Additionally, the GCR entered into two very exciting partnerships to support the vision and mission of a world where quality radiotherapy is universal and equitable.

“Our collaboration with Global Health Dynamics provides for publication of the Radiotherapy Essential Standards in the prestigious, peer-reviewed Cancer Control Supplement. The global and wide-spread reach of this Supplement will drive awareness, adoption and implementation of radiotherapy as a critical cancer treatment modality. 
“The Health Value Alliance collaboration enables effective implementation and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of radiotherapy best practices and specifically the GCR Radiotherapy Essential Standards through HVA's standardized methods for assessing, monitoring and improving cancer health care and patient outcomes through real-world evidence.” - Birgit Fleurent, GCR Board Deputy Chair


Learn more about the GCR impact in the GCR News:



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