Emad Shash, General Manager of the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, and President of the Egyptian Gynaecological Oncology Society, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“During the 18th BGICC in Cairo, the 2nd implementation session of the Cairo Call to Action on Breast Cancer (22 January 2026) was an important reminder that the “hard work” begins after endorsements—when we translate commitments into deliverables, indicators, and accountability.
What I particularly value about this framework is its implementation DNA: it explicitly pushes us toward measurable pathways—aligned with outcomes like the Global Breast Cancer Initiative 60–60–80 targets—rather than remaining a purely aspirational statement.
From a practical viewpoint, the fastest wins will come from agreeing on (and then tracking) a small set of “non-negotiables” across countries:
1) Standardized early-detection and referral pathways that are realistic in primary care.
2) Diagnostic timeliness metrics (e.g., time-to-diagnosis, time-to-treatment) that can be monitored.
3) The integration of data into national health information systems, ensuring minimum datasets, quality checks, and routine reporting, is crucial.
4) Access levers: pathology, imaging, essential medicines/technologies, and supply-chain visibility.
5) Patient-centered care, including navigation and psychosocial support—because late presentation is not only a clinical issue.
Thank you to Prof. Hesham ElGhazaly for their thoughtful, steady support. I also want to express my appreciation to colleagues from the World Health Organization/WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, IARC, national policymakers, civil society members, patient advocates, and oncology leaders who ensured that the discussion remained focused on real-world delivery.”
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