UdeC signs agreement to improve access to cancer care

Cancer, according to the 2020 report of the World Health Organization, is the second cause of death globally (16.3%), only surpassed by cardiovascular pathologies (32%), but the estimates of the International Agency for Cancer Research indicates that by 2040 it will be the leading cause of death with 45,000 fatalities per day.

In Chile the scenario is repeated, cancer occupies the second place in causes of death and it is expected that in the coming years it will become the first cause of death, hence the importance of application of Gran Concepción to be part of the City Cancer Challengeinternational body aimed at improving access to cancer care and that recognizes cities as key players in the response of the health system.

Along with the above, yesterday the Regional Government signed the Citizen Agreement for Cancer 2022, which seeks to provide information that promptly guides decision-making in regional oncology policies; promote opportunities for access and exchange of information, resources and knowledge, promote cooperation projects, optimize patient care processes focused on promotion, prevention, suspicion, early diagnosis, timely treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care; among others.

In that sense, the deputy medical director of the Concepción Health Service, Raúl González, stated that they hope that the application to the City Cancer Challenge will come to fruition. For this reason, he invited to join efforts and adhere to the citizen agreement focused on creating a cancer ecosystem in the Region, a space for social participation, public-private cooperation and joint action between local institutions to ensure that the area has more timely access for cancer patients.

The Ministry of Health, Eduardo Barrastressed that collaborative public-private work could contribute to better care for cancer patients. “We believe that this application will achieve the objective by facilitating and providing greater certainty, thinking about the well-being of our patients. We are fully available and hoping that we can advance this as a reality in the coming years”.

Meanwhile, in his capacity as president of the Association of Municipalities of Biobío, Álvaro Ortiz, signed the agreement that, according to what he said, allows “promote strategic local development, addressing a topic as complex as cancer, in a collaborative way and leaving aside individuality, which unfortunately has been taking place in society. That’s why this moment is important.” commented.

The process of application to the City Cancer Challenge departed more than 18 months ago from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Concepción (UdeC), an entity that is one of the key players in starting the process to convert Gran Concepción into part of the select group of 11 cities that hold the category.

The Vice-rector for Institutional Relations and Links with the Environment of the UdeC, Ximena Gauchéstated that the participation of the university reflects the public, citizen and centenary nature of the UdeC contributing to social processes.

“In this case, facing in a collaborative and bidirectional way, with civil society, with the political world and with the academic world. Obviously it is a real problem in our country and today it has a sad force and magnitude with the numbers of affected patients. And, therefore, from the vice-chancellor’s office, we support the determined work that the Faculty of Medicine is leading in our University,” he said.

In this final stage of the application, the city received the visit of a delegation from City Cancer Challenge, the representative for Latin America, María Fernanda Navarro, asserted “that with the collaborative agreement signed as a city, they show interest in working on cancer issues. That is already progress and it is what the city can demonstrate to its citizens. Everyone is interested in working on the cancer issue and doing collaborative work.”

Additionally, two conferences were scheduled with the participation of the academic world and civil society organizations related to cancer at the Universidad San Sebastián (USS) and UdeC.