Global Summit on War and Cancer 2023: Richard Sullivan’s speech on Global Cancer Policy and Addressing Disparities in Conflict-Affected Regions

The 1st Global Summit on War and Cancer took place on 14 – 16 December, 2023. It was organized by the Institute of Cancer and Crisis and OncoDaily. Renowned healthcare specialists from all over the world came together to discuss cancer issues at the time of war.

We were honored to have Richard Sullivan, the Director of the King’s Institute of Cancer Policy and co-Director of the Conflict and Health Research Group, as a speaker during the Summit where he discussed the critical need to address disparities in conflict-affected regions, where access to proper cancer care is often compromised.

Prof. Sullivan emphasized the urgency of implementing comprehensive global policies that prioritize healthcare infrastructure in areas affected by conflict, ensuring that individuals facing adversity have equitable access to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and support.

Richard Sullivan is a Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King’s College London, and Director of the King’s Institute of Cancer Policy and co-Director of the Conflict and Health Research Group. His research interests extend from global cancer to conflict & health. He has worked on a number of Lancet and Lancet Oncology commissions, currently the Lancet Commission on Global Diagnostics and the Lancet Oncology European Cancer Research Commission.

Dr. Sullivan’s work contributes to capacity building in conflict and health, and humanitarian medicine, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as programs in women’s health and cancer, digital innovation and a wide range of global health security project. He is an NCD advisor to the WHO, a member of the National Cancer Grid of India and advisor (civil-military) to Save the Children.