Representatives from 20 countries of the Mediterranean area meet in Rome to launch a novel Task Force against cancer

Cancer Prevention, Screening and Early Detection are rather neglected actions in most of the Mediterranean bordering countries, with sensitive burden on health costs and suffering incurred for cure of advanced stage cancers. With the aging of population and changes in lifestyle, incidence and mortality of cancer are increasing in several of the above mentioned countries and will soon become a priority for health systems. WHO data clearly show how survival of cancer patients, because of late diagnoses and inappropriate therapies, is directly proportional to the percentage of GNP allocate to health.

On February 2, 2007 in Rome, Italy, a Mediterranean Task Force for Cancer Control (MTCC) of responsible and reputed professionals, able to influence at their national level the appropriate institutions and bodies (lawmakers, health officials, voluntary organizations, etc.), was established in order to implement guidelines and actions. Representatives from Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France (IARC), Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey expressed their support to the initiative. The Task Force is held under the patronage of the CINBO, the Mediterranean School of Oncology and the Institutions of the participant countries. The HRH Princess Ghida Talal and HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan were nominated as Honorary Members of MTCC.

The Mission and Aims of the Mediterranean Task Force are:
- To reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Mediterranean Area through collaborative efforts by influencing policy, promoting networking, and provide services and programs in a multidisciplinary approach directed toward comprehensive cancer prevention and control.
- To promote the collection and use of information for professional and public education.
- To increase the proportion of Mediterranean citizens who have access to state-of-art cancer diagnoses, treatment, and palliative care.
- To influence policies and promote programs and activities to eliminate disparities in cancer control in relation to gender, race, ethnicity, insurance and socio-economic status, and place of residence.

The Task Force has been incorporated as a non profit International Association, open to the representatives of the Mediterranean bordering countries. Two preparatory meetings were held in Taormina (Italy) on October 4th 2005 and Istanbul on January 28-29, 2006.
In consideration of the important economic, ethic and structural implications of what is summarized in the present document, the promoters of the Task Force ask for special attention by the National and International bodies dealing with related actions.