Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Global overview of Access: what is ASCO doing to reduce disparities (#2)

Robin Zon 1
  1. ASCO, Niles, MI, United States

Globally, cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths annually, or 1 in 6 deaths. Despite successes in reducing cancer incidence and mortality, inequities persist globally and can be linked to a variety of barriers for patients, including but not limited to geography, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender identity and sexual orientation, culture, education, and insurance access. Additionally, socioeconomic disparities and systemic inequities resulting from public policies, racism, ethical development and access to technological advancements, present ongoing and serious factors impacting equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts meant to improve access to health care services. To address many of these factors, ASCO has developed a comprehensive Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy aimed at advancing equitable cancer care. This strategy enables greater impact for equitable and inclusive patient care by focusing on EDI programs and tangible steps ASCO can take to move the needle and create substantial and sustainable change.