Argentina’s National Cancer Control Plan: Planning and Implementation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cancer includes a complex group of diseases with multiple and diverse causes, which requires a multidisciplinary, interinstitutional and multisectoral management. Several stakeholders are involved in trying to develop and implement primary and secondary strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and accompaniment at the end of life. The National Cancer Institute (INC), a government agency for cancer research, has led and coordinated the drafting of the first National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) in Argentina. The fundamental objective of the NCCP is to improve early detection, diagnosis, curative, palliative and rehabilitation treatment, with the general purpose of putting cancer on the agenda as a public health issue. METHODS: Strategic planning, including evidencebased interventions for continuous cancer care and the best use of available resources. After being approved by the secretary of Health and reviewed by an External Advisory Council, the NCCP was disclosed to the jurisdictions and other stakeholders involved in continuous cancer care, who were invited to join the NCCP. RESULTS: The results will be available in January 2023. DISCUSSION: The NCCP, with a time horizon of 5 years (2018-2022), states the prioritized cancer policies under the leadership of the INC, which leads and coordinates the activities to be implemented, following guidelines and recommendations of the World Health Organization.