IRAN National Cancer Control Program (IrNCCP): Goals, Strategies, and Programs

Ali Motlagh; Elham Ehsani-Chimeh; Maisa Yamrali; Farzaneh Moshiri; Gholamreza Roshandel; Elham Partovipour; Freshteh Salavati; Mostafa Khoshabi; Nadia Tavakoli; Freshteh Asgari; Alireza Raisi; Reza Malekzadeh; Alireza Mahdavi Hezaveh; Kamal Heidari; Koorosh Etemad; Afshin Ostovar

doi:10.47176/mjiri.36.169

IRAN National Cancer Control Program (IrNCCP): Goals, Strategies, and Programs

Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2022 Dec 24:36:169. doi: 10.47176/mjiri.36.169. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Ali Motlagh^{1

2}, Elham Ehsani-Chimeh³, Maisa Yamrali², Farzaneh Moshiri^{4

2}, Gholamreza Roshandel⁵, Elham Partovipour², Freshteh Salavati², Mostafa Khoshabi⁶, Nadia Tavakoli⁷, Freshteh Asgari², Alireza Raisi⁸, Reza Malekzadeh⁹, Alireza Mahdavi Hezaveh¹⁰, Kamal Heidari^{11

12}, Koorosh Etemad^{13

10}, Afshin Ostovar¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Imam Hossein Hospital, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
² Cancer Department, Vice Chancellery for Health, Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
³ National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
⁶ Department of Geospatial Information System (GIS), Center of Excellence in GIS, K.N. Toosi Uni. of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁹ Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine; Digestive Oncology Research Center; Digestive Diseases Research Institute; Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
¹⁰ Center for Non-Communicable Disease Control, Vice Chancellery for Health, Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
¹¹ Vice Chancellery for Health, Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
¹² Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
¹³ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
¹⁴ Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Annually, over 131000 new cases of cancer have been identified in Iran, with an increasing trend that is predicted to grow by 40% by 2025. The most important contributing factors to this increase are the improvement of the health service delivery system, increased life expectancy, and the aging of the population. The aim of this study was to develop Iran's "National Cancer Control Program" (IrNCCP).

Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2013 using the method of reviewing studies and documents and focused group discussions and a panel of experts. In this study, the available evidence related to cancer status and its care in Iran and other countries, as well as national and international upstream documents, were reviewed and analyzed. Then, by analyzing the current situation in Iran and other countries and conducting stakeholder analysis with the strategic planning approach, the IrNCCP was developed with a 12-year horizon consisting of goals, strategies, programs, and performance indicators.

Results: This program has 4 main components, including Prevention, Early Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment, and Supportive and Palliative care, as well as 7 supporting components including Governance and policy-making, Cancer Research, Developing facilities, equipment, and service delivery network, Providing and managing human resources, Providing and managing financial resources, Cancer information system management and registry, and Participation of NGOs, charities, and the private sector.

Conclusion: Iran's National Cancer Control Program has been developed comprehensively with cross-sectoral cooperation and stakeholder participation. However, like any long-term health intervention, strengthening its governance structure both in terms of implementation and achievement of expected goals and evaluation and modification during the implementation of the program is essential.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer Control; Cancer Planning; Cancer control program; Planning.