Advocacy

CANSA CEO Letter to Honourable Dr Mkhize

31 May 2019 The Minister of Health South Africa Honourable Dr Mkhize On behalf of the Board and Management of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), I congratulate you on your appointment as the Minister of Health. Your extensive experience and exemplary leadership demonstrated in your previous positions leaves us confident that you will excel […]

Published: 7 June 2019
Categories: Advocacy

World Health Assembly Approves Milestone Resolution On Price Transparency

CANSA was represented by the Cancer Alliance, of which it is a member, at the World Health Assembly, helping to get the resolution passed: The World Health Assembly approved a milestone resolution to support greater public disclosure of prices for medicines and other health products. Senior WHO officials called it a landmark measure, which could have a lasting impact on lowering prices in markets for urgently-needed health products, ranging from treatments for cancer and hepatitis, to insulin, which today are unaffordable in many low- and middle-income countries.

Published: 29 May 2019
Updated: 1 July 2019
Categories: Advocacy

Health Activists Gather to Discuss Excessive Price of Cancer Medicine

From 11 to 13 April 2019, policy makers from across the world will gather at Emperors Palace at a forum hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and South African government that is asking: what is a fair price for a medicine? Civil Society Organizations and activists, local and international, have organized a side event at the same venue to discuss the emerging issues in medicine pricing as well as strategies to ensure that people are not denied their right to health due to the ever increasing cost of medicines.  One of the focus areas is the excessive price of cancer medicines in South Africa, with a specific focus on lenalidomide, a drug used for the treatment of myeloma.

Published: 11 April 2019
Updated: 17 April 2019
Categories: Advocacy

Cookbook Can Help Reduce Your Cancer Risk

The Smart Choice Cookbook with CANSA and B-well is a collection of recipes that focuses on cancer risk reduction. All the recipes were developed in consultation with CANSA’s consulting dietitian Megan Pentz-Kluyts, who is renowned for her knowledge on the role of nutrition in helping to lower the risk of cancer.

Published: 18 March 2019
Updated: 18 June 2026
Categories: Balanced Lifestyle, CANSA's Seal of Recognition, Dietary Tips

SANCDA Accepted as a Member of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD)

CANSA is a founding partner of the South African Non Communicable Diseases Alliance (SANCDA), which was recently accepted as a member of the Non Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCDA).

Published: 25 February 2019
Updated: 10 March 2021
Categories: Advocacy, CANSA - Who We Are

Addressing Obesity as a risk factor for cancer in South Africa: Size does matter

Obesity, a risk factor for cancer and an established problem in high-income countries, is escalating rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, contributing significantly to the noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden. Dr Melissa Wallace and Ms Megan Pentz-Kluyts contributed an article to Cancercontrol.info.

Published: 19 February 2019
Updated: 9 March 2021
Categories: Advocacy, Balanced Lifestyle, Research Findings

Cancer Alliance Calls for Access to Affordable Lenalidomide for SA Patients

15 February 2019 – Many cancer patients in South Africa do not have access to affordable cancer medicines – many of which are available in other countries at a fraction of the price paid here. These patients are not getting the treatment that they need because our government routinely grants patents that could have been […]

Published: 18 February 2019
Updated: 29 May 2019
Categories: Advocacy

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day Events at CANSA

The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) hosted an event with the theme “Strengthening advocacy efforts for equitable access to treatment and care for ALL” at the CANSA Head Office on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. An event was also hosted at the CANSA Durban Care Centre, in KZN.

Published: 12 December 2018
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

Cancer Alliance Supports Launch of National Cancer Campaign

The National Cancer Campaign (NCC) was launched in PMB, KwaZulu-Natal on the 30th October 2018 and will focus on primary prevention and community awareness. The Cancer Alliance, of which CANSA is a member, applauds and supports this campaign. CANSA shares key messages communicated at the launch…

Published: 29 October 2018
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

CANSA and Partners say ENOUGH Inaction on Non-Communicable Diseases

The first Global Week for Action on NCDs, from 3-9 September 2018, is an initiative of NCD Alliance, themed ENOUGH. Our Health. Our Right. Right Now. CANSA and the SA NCD Alliance join hundreds of partners from across the globe to call on governments to take assertive action to deliver progress on NCD prevention and control. #beatNCDs

Published: 4 September 2018
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

SA Cabinet Approves New Intellectual Property Policy – Fix the Patent Laws on Published IP Policy

Although the adoption and finalisation to the policy is an incredible achievement for South Africa, there is still much work ahead as we await the development and passing of necessary legislative amendments to the Patent Law. At this stage the policy only serves as a guide to the legal framework that is needed to amend the Patent Law. CANSA is helping to appeal to the Department of Trade and Industry to urgently prioritise the development of Bills to support the adjustments that are needed to ensure affordable access to medicines, especially cancer medication. Working together with the Fix the Patent Laws Coalition, we’ll make submissions for comment on the Bill as and when required. CANSA will continue to work with FTPL to fight South Africa’s patent laws until the people of our country can afford life-saving cancer medication.

Published: 1 June 2018
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

CANSA Interview about Importance of Balanced Lifestyle – Mail & Guardian

April 2018: Lorraine Govender (CANSA’s National Advocacy Co-ordinator), was interviewed by Adri Kotze (Africa Editor Centre for Health Journalism – Mail & Guardian – http://bhekisisa.org/). CANSA was asked to respond to Cancer Research UK’s latest research, published earlier this year, regarding lifestyle factors which could contribute to an increased cancer risk, and to comment on […]

Published: 25 April 2018
Updated: 9 March 2021
Categories: Advocacy, Balanced Lifestyle, Research Findings

e-Cigarettes – Safety Not Yet Proven

The safety of e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) has not yet been scientifically shown. Infographic: Ten Reasons Why e-cigarettes Should be Regulated They contain nicotine, so they’re addictive and may encourage novice users to later switch to combustible cigarettes. They’re particularly harmful and addictive to people under the age of 25, as their brains are still developing […]

Published: 30 March 2018
Updated: 20 May 2022
Categories: Advocacy, No-Tobacco Campaign

CANSA CEO Letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa

CANSA’s CEO, on behalf of the Board and Management at CANSA, expressed their profound and heartfelt congratulations on Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment as the President of South Africa, applauding his commitment as conveyed in the State of the Nation Address, to fight Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) and cancer in SA. CANSA welcomes the attention to services at all health care levels and the underscoring of equity in access to health services.

Published: 18 February 2018
Categories: Advocacy

Cancer Alliance Calls for Intellectual Property Reform in SA to Commemorate World Cancer Day

To commemorate World Cancer Day on February 4, 2018, the Cancer Alliance, of which CANSA is a partner, announced the eight medicines which will be the focus of a concerted two year campaign to change the path of cancer treatment in our country and hosted a ‘Patent Reform’ Media Roundtable / Webinar on 30 January.

Published: 17 January 2018
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

Invitation to Cancer Alliance ‘Patent Reform’ Media Round Table / Webinar for World Cancer Day

In preparation for World Cancer Day 2018, join Kwanele Asante, Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Commission on the Prevention and Control of Cancer, in the debate about access to lifesaving medicines and our demand for policy reform.

Published: 17 January 2018
Updated: 6 February 2018
Categories: Advocacy

Cancer Alliance Video: Why SA Needs Patent Law Reform Now

UPDATED: May 2019

Why do we need patent law reform urgently in South Africa?

Published: 16 January 2018
Updated: 29 May 2019
Categories: Advocacy

CANSA CEO Attends Global NCD Alliance Forum 2017

Elize Joubert, CANSA CEO, is representing South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (SA NCD Alliance) at the 2nd Global NCD Alliance Forum, 9th-11th December, 2017, in Sharjah, UAE. This year’s theme is “Stepping up the pace on NCDs: making 2018 count”. #NCDAF2017.12.08

Published: 8 January 2018
Updated: 10 March 2021
Categories: Advocacy, CANSA - Who We Are

CANSA & Partners Recognise Universal Health Coverage Day

CANSA hosted a Universal Health Coverage event on behalf of the Cancer Alliance and the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of South Africa (SANCDA). CANSA invited the Health Department, health care professionals and other civil society organisations that are instrumental in the promotion of #HealthForAll, to come and share ideas regarding how to promote universal health coverage for all in South Africa.

Published: 11 December 2017
Updated: 25 January 2021
Categories: Advocacy

South African Cancer Advocacy Toolkit

This new South African Cancer Advocacy Toolkit is based on the Photovoice research outcomes of Dr Lynn Edwards and Linda Greeff. This research captures the felt needs and experiences of a representative sample of cancer patients and caregivers in South Africa. The Cancer Alliance has distilled this into nine Priority Areas of concern, which also […]

Published: 6 December 2017
Updated: 11 December 2017
Categories: Advocacy

Competition Commission

The report released from the Competition Commission’s investigation into price fixing allegations against pharmaceutical companies following concerns raised by Advocates for Breast Cancer, the Cancer Alliance, the Cancer Association of South Africa, and Section27 received widespread media enquiries. Information in the possession of the Commission “confirms that breast cancer treatment is unaffordable” in South Africa […]

Published: 6 December 2017
Categories: Advocacy