World Cancer Day is an opportunity to inspire Scotland’s healthcare innovators to collaborate in the fight against the disease which kills 10 million people every year, says InnoScot Health

Taking place on Saturday 4 February, the theme of World Cancer Day 2023 is ‘Close the Care Gap,’ and organisers believe that recognising the power of working together while inspiring change and mobilising action are cornerstones of the solution.

Executive Chair of InnoScot Health, Graham Watson said: “World Cancer Day 2023 asks, ‘What will you do to close the gap in cancer care?’

“Healthcare innovators here in Scotland can reach out, answer that call, and make real progress in reducing the global impact of cancer.

“Collaboration is real power during a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We have already witnessed extraordinary breakthroughs, and Scotland is uniquely placed to contribute by bringing together the NHS, industry, and academia thanks to its history of innovation, leading global know-how, and lack of geographical barriers.”

World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), dedicated to taking a lead in uniting the cancer community to reduce the disease’s global burden, and integrating cancer control into the world health and development agenda.

Among its many aims, World Cancer Day 2023 is urging the building of “stronger alliances and innovative new collaborations” amid more than one third of cancer cases being preventable. Another third can be cured if detected early and treated properly, according to UICC.

Mr Watson added: “This important date will be marked by hundreds of events happening across the globe. When people unite, then humanity is empowered, and change is within our grasp.

“It must also mean fresh collaboration and innovation to sustain the incredible progress that has been made in the fight against cancer in recent years. It is only by working together and targeting advancement in an equitable manner that we will create enduring change.

“InnoScot Health is one such collaborative-minded organisation that is supporting World Cancer Day. We believe that innovative ideas have the power to significantly improve health and social care, while supporting an ambitious, forward-thinking NHS.

“InnoScot Health has been working in partnership with NHS Scotland for over 20 years. By harnessing the talent and commitment of NHS staff and developing their ideas, we help to improve patient outcomes.”

On World Cancer Day, InnoScot Health is encouraging healthcare staff to make a difference to NHS Scotland by submitting their ideas.

Incredible, life-changing projects are already underway across the country, including a consortium launched last year with the ambition that it will be possible to diagnose skin cancer – the most common cancer in Scotland – in less than 25 minutes come 2025 thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).

Lead Consultant Dermatologist at NHS Forth Valley, Dr Colin Morton, believes that there is a huge opportunity for NHS Scotland to embed world-leading AI into patients’ journeys and transform skin cancer diagnosis.

The West of Scotland Innovation Hub is also presenting an educational seminar on 7 February, entitled ‘Inspiring Innovation In Cancer Care', that is open to all healthcare staff working in cancer care in Scotland.

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