Cancer & Covid-19: New Challenges to Controlling Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean
As the Covid-19 pandemic put unprecedented pressure on health systems across Latin America and the Caribbean, it also exacerbated existing gaps in access to cancer care and generated additional barriers for patients. The full spectrum of cancer care–from preventive services to delivery of treatment–was negatively impacted, with expected repercussions in mortality rates and indicators for economic prosperity in the region. The extent of this impact varies across Latin America, however, and more needs to be done to understand the reasons why. More immediately, health experts warn there is an urgent need to address barriers that are hindering patients’ access to quality cancer care and to strengthen health systems to be resilient ahead of future emergencies.
The Inter-American Dialogue’s Corporate Program is pleased to convene a panel of experts to explore these issues. Our panel will discuss the following questions, among others:
- What have been the economic and social impact of the pandemic on cancer care, ranging from diagnosis delay and follow-up and treatment disruption to mortality increases?
- How well were policymakers addressing cancer care in the region before the pandemic, what gaps were there, and what are best practices that can be shared and replicated more widely moving ahead?
- What short- and medium-term investments in health would help preparation for the next health crisis, in terms of prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases such as cancer?
- What sorts of public-private collaborations could do most to address cancer care that would prevent further social economic harm?
Follow this event on Twitter at #CancerLatAm and @The_Dialogue.
We invite participants to submit questions using the Q&A function in Zoom OR to email questions to meetings@thedialogue.org.
This webinar will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish.
WELCOME REMARKS
REBECCA BILL CHAVEZ
President & CEO, Inter-American Dialogue (@rebeccabillchav)
PANELISTS
ANSELM HENNIS
Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO (@ahennis1)
CRISTIAN HERRERA
Senior Health Specialist in the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, World Bank (@cristianhr)
MARIANA RICO
Regional Medical Director, Americas Health Foundation
MODERATOR
ALESSANDRA DURSTINE
CEO, Catalyst Consulting Group