[A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Universal Health Coverage for Cancer in Asia - Seeking an Approach to Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative].

ABSTRACT

UICC-Asia Regional Office(UICC-ARO)successfully convened a fruitful Multi-stakeholder Dialogue at United Nations University in Aoyama, Tokyo, which brought together parliamentarians, representatives ofthe WHO and Japanese government agencies and NGOs, senior executives ofpharmaceutical and other companies, and leading members ofJapan 's cancer research community. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders from all sectors of society to discuss ways in which Japan can develop a multi-sectoral approach that will promote access to cancer care and support initiatives for UHC for cancer in Asia. UICC-ARO Director Hideyuki Akaza and Haruhiko Hirate(Chair of International Affairs Committee, JPMA) co-chaired the meeting. At the outset it was noted that with cancer now firmly on the global health agenda with the adoption ofthe WHA Cancer Resolution, countries around the world are coming to grips with the necessity for concerted and cooperative action on cancer prevention and control. This dialogue marks the first step in efforts to pool resources and information, and noted that with various key international meetings due to be held in 2018 and 2019, now was the time to coalesce opinions and identify a concrete direction for action.