Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT)

The global burden of cancer is increasing at an alarming rate and presents a major global health and development challenge. The greatest impact falls on developing countries, which are least prepared to deal with the consequences of the disease.

Tackling this crisis cannot be undertaken by one organization alone. Government commitment and the collaborative support and expertise of key actors in the area of cancer should be brought together in a complementary manner. PACT has established strategic partnerships to develop and implement effective and sustainable cancer control programmes to benefit national populations as a whole and professionals working in the healthcare system.

PACT’s goals:

• Build global partnerships with key international organizations committed to addressing the many challenges posed by cancer in low- and middle-income Member States.
• Mobilize resources from the public and private sector to assist Member States in developing and implementing an effective and well-targeted national cancer control programme.
• Support Member States with comprehensive capacity and needs assessments, as well as targeted capacity-building activities to strengthen their national cancer control programmes.
• Support effective and affordable access to quality cancer control services to all in need. 

PACT’s core services support IAEA Member States with the planning and implementation of cancer projects:

• imPACT Reviews effectively assess a country’s cancer control capacities, identifying opportunities and priorities at all levels of the national health system.
• Pact Model Demonstration Sites (PMDS) are programmes in eight designated IAEA Member States where PACT works with international partners to develop sustainable cancer control projects.
• The Virtual University for Cancer Control (VUCCnet) is a pilot eLearning platform that provides cancer-related courses adapted to correspond to the needs of cancer care professionals in African countries.
• The Advisory Group on increasing access to Radiotherapy Technology in low-and middle-income countries (AGaRT) acts as a neutral facilitator bringing together radiotherapy equipment manufacturers and suppliers with end-users in IAEA Member States to ensure national requirements for radiotherapy services are met by the technology available.
• PACT organizes and conducts capacity-building and training, as well as mobilizes resources to implement comprehensive cancer control projects in low- and middle-income Member States.
• PACT works to promote the role of radiation medicine in comprehensive cancer control.