Report on the Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26) and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Call for Abstract Submissions

The Binaytara Foundation has announced the opening of the abstract submission portal for the upcoming Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD26). This event serves as a critical forum for researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals to present findings and collaborate on strategies to advance equity in cancer care. The initiative directly supports the global effort to achieve key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The summit’s primary focus on cancer health disparities is fundamentally linked to the achievement of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The research presented at SCHD26 will contribute to:

• Target 3.4: Reducing by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, through prevention and treatment. Addressing disparities is essential to ensure that mortality reduction benefits all segments of the population equally.
• Universal Health Coverage: Promoting equitable access to quality essential health-care services for all individuals, a core principle of SDG 3. The summit’s work is vital for identifying and dismantling barriers to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Contribution to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By concentrating on equity, SCHD26 directly addresses the objectives of SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequality within and among countries. The summit contributes to this goal through several mechanisms:

1. Promoting Equal Opportunity: The forum facilitates the sharing of research that identifies systemic inequalities in cancer outcomes based on socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and geographic location.
2. Informing Inclusive Policies: Findings presented at the summit can guide the development of policies and interventions that ensure equal access to cancer care, thereby reducing inequalities of outcome as stipulated in Target 10.3.
3. Empowering Vulnerable Populations: By highlighting the specific challenges faced by marginalized communities, the summit fosters solutions that empower these populations and ensure they are not left behind in the fight against cancer.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Summit on Cancer Health Disparities embodies the spirit of SDG 17 by creating a multi-stakeholder platform for collaboration. It brings together academic institutions, healthcare providers, and community organizations to build effective partnerships aimed at a common goal: eliminating disparities in cancer care and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article, despite its brevity, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on addressing inequalities in healthcare, specifically cancer treatment.

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core subject of the article is the “Summit on Cancer Health Disparities,” which directly relates to promoting health and well-being. The focus on “cancer care” aligns with the goal of combating non-communicable diseases.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The summit’s central theme is “equity in cancer care” and addressing “health disparities.” This directly targets the reduction of inequalities in health outcomes and access to care among different population groups.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article announces a “Summit,” which is a collaborative event designed to bring together experts and stakeholders. By providing a forum to “present your work,” it promotes the sharing of knowledge and the formation of partnerships to tackle the complex issue of health disparities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the themes of the summit mentioned in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
     • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment…” The summit’s focus on improving “cancer care” is a direct effort to reduce mortality from a major non-communicable disease. Addressing “disparities” is crucial to achieving this reduction across all segments of the population.
     • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services…” The call for “equity in cancer care” is fundamentally about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to quality healthcare services, which is the essence of universal health coverage.
   • Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
     • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity… or other status.” Health disparities are often rooted in these exact forms of social and economic exclusion. A summit dedicated to this topic aims to find ways to ensure inclusion in health systems.
     • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…” The summit’s goal of achieving “equity in cancer care” directly addresses the need to reduce inequalities in health outcomes (e.g., survival rates) for cancer patients.
   • Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
     • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise…” The “Summit on Cancer Health Disparities” is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership designed to mobilize and share knowledge and research (“present your work”) to achieve a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article does not explicitly state any quantitative indicators. However, the subject matter strongly implies the types of indicators that would be used to measure progress in the areas discussed.

   • Implied Indicators for SDG 3: The focus on “cancer” implies the relevance of Indicator 3.4.1 (Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease). The theme of “disparities” suggests that this data would need to be disaggregated by income, race, gender, and geographic location to measure progress towards equity.
   • Implied Indicators for SDG 10: The discussion of “health disparities” and “equity” implies the need for indicators that measure the gap in health outcomes. While not an official SDG indicator, progress could be measured by tracking the differences in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates across various demographic and socioeconomic groups. This aligns with the principle behind Indicator 10.2.1 (Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities), but applied to health outcomes.
   • Implied Indicators for SDG 17: The announcement of a summit and a call for abstracts implies indicators related to knowledge sharing and collaboration. Progress could be measured by the number of abstracts submitted, the number of participants attending the summit, and the number of collaborative research projects or policies that emerge from the forum. This relates to the concept of Indicator 17.16.1 (Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks).

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oncodaily.com