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George Vlachogiannis: Integrating Oncology into Primary Health Care – Lessons from Alma Ata

George Vlachogiannis/LinkedIn

Aug 16, 2025, 19:40

George Vlachogiannis: Integrating Oncology into Primary Health Care – Lessons from Alma Ata

George Vlachogiannis, Managing Editor of Cancer Control at Sage, shared Javier David Benitez Fuentes’s on LinkedIn:

“Revisiting Alma Ata: A Blueprint for Cancer Care

In their recent Cancer Control review article, Dr Javier David Benitez Fuentes and colleagues revisit the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration as a blueprint for tackling today’s global cancer care inequities.

The authors propose integrating oncology into robust primary health care systems to improve prevention, early detection, and survivorship, while balancing specialized central services with accessible community-based care.

Real-world examples from both high- and low-resource settings show that this approach can reduce disparities, enhance equity, and create more sustainable cancer care models. Policy alignment, innovative financing, and active community participation are needed in order to ensure cancer advances benefit everyone, regardless of geography or income.”

Quoting Javier David Benitez Fuentes’s, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Lung Cancer, General University Hospital of Elche at Generalitat Valenciana, post:

“New Publication Alert

Proud to share our article in Cancer Control: ‘Revisiting Alma Ata: A Blueprint for Cancer Care’

We explore how the principles of the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration – equity, universal access, prevention, and community participation – can inspire a new vision for cancer care worldwide.

Our key message: stronger, prevention-focused primary health care integrated with specialized oncology can bridge gaps, cut costs, and improve outcomes – wherever patients live.

Grateful to work with an incredible team committed to making cancer care fairer and more accessible for all.”

Authors: Javier-David Benitez-Fuentes, Rodrigo Lastra del Prado, Miguel Borregon-Rivilla, Alicia de Luna Aguilar, Antonio-David Lazaro-Sanchez, Asia Ferrández-Arias, Paula Rodríguez Payá, Beatriz Grau Mirete, Teresa Quintanar Verduguez, Elena Asensio Martinez, Patricia Iranzo, Ana Callejo, Mara Cruellas Lapeña, Jacobo Gómez Ulla, Alvaro Rodriguez-Lescure

Read the full article.

George Vlachogiannis