Paying a heavy price

The economics of cancer

Point of View recently interviewed HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, a global cancer advocate and Honorary Co-President of Harvard University's global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in the Developing World, for an insightful look into cancer, both globally and in the Middle East region.

Despite bearing 70% of the cancer burden in the coming years, the developing world will, astoundingly, only receive 5% of the global resources for cancer – and by some accounts as little as 2%. Clearly, this is not enough to take the action needed to combat cancer in the developing world.

The cancer burden is one that requires the support of all segments of society, and I very firmly believe that the fight against cancer should be an essential part of every company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.