Data Saves Lives: Experts At World Health Summit Spotlight Innovation As Key To Fighting Cancer
By Bassey Ita-Ikpang
Reporting from the World Health Summit 2025, Berlin
In an era where health data is as vital as medicine, experts at the World Health Summit (WHS) 2025 in Berlin have declared that innovation in cancer registries is transforming how nations fight cancer and save lives.
At a session titled “Lives in Focus: How Innovation in Cancer Registries Is Advancing National Cancer Control Plans and Patient Outcomes,” global health leaders, researchers, and policymakers explored how modern data systems are reshaping national cancer strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries where reliable data remains a challenge.
The discussion, sponsored by Vital Strategies, a leading global public health organisation, was moderated by its CEO, Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet.
The distinguished panel included Ulrika Årehed Kågström, President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC); Dr Marion Piñeros from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); Lilian Genga, Programme Coordinator of Kenya’s National Cancer Control Programme; Dr Adam Karpati, Senior Vice President, Public Health Programmes, Vital Strategies; and Htoo Kyaw Lynn, Senior Technical Advisor, Vital Strategies.
The speakers unanimously stressed that accurate cancer data is the backbone of effective cancer control.
According to Dr Piñeros, reliable registries allow governments to understand disease burdens, identify gaps, and track the impact of interventions over time.
“Cancer registries are the backbone of every national cancer control plan,” she said. “They provide the evidence that guides prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”
Kenya’s experience stood out as a success story, with Lilian Genga sharing how digital cancer registries are improving early detection and treatment coordination.
Similar innovations are emerging across Africa, with countries like Rwanda embracing data-driven approaches to strengthen public health systems.
Beyond technology, the conversation turned to sustainability and ownership. Dr Adam Karpati cautioned that while international funding is important, long-term success depends on national commitment.
“External funding can start the process, but national ownership will sustain it,” he stated. “When countries fund and protect their registries, they protect their people.”
In closing, panellists agreed that cancer registries are more than just databases—they are instruments of survival that turn data into life-saving action.
As the global fight against cancer intensifies, the message from Berlin is clear: to save lives, nations must invest in data as seriously as they invest in medicine.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n]
