The OECD report “Tackling the Impact of Cancer on Health, the Economy and Society” published on 21 November 2024, highlights the substantial burden that cancer imposes on public health systems, economies, and societies across OECD countries. Cancer accounts for one in four premature deaths, leading to a significant reduction in quality of life, workforce participation, and productivity. The report emphasizes that as populations age and treatment costs rise, the economic and social costs of cancer are expected to increase.
Through microsimulation modelling, the report demonstrates that stronger cancer policies could yield broad benefits, including the prevention of premature deaths and a reduction in healthcare expenditures. It advocates for comprehensive actions to improve early diagnosis, cancer screening, and access to effective treatments, while also addressing key cancer risk factors like tobacco use, alcohol, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. The report also explores the role of vaccination, particularly against human papillomavirus (HPV), in preventing cervical cancer, and calls for international policy targets to reduce the overall cancer burden, benefiting both health systems and society at large.