On 23rd September 2024, the United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future concluded with the adoption of the "Pact for the Future," a document aimed at addressing key global challenges through the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and beyond. While health remains underrepresented in the final text, ESMO submitted targeted feedback to ensure that Universal Health Coverage (UHC), decent working conditions and climate action in the healthcare sector were acknowledged as essential components of sustainable development.
Leveraging its special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), ESMO provided targeted input focused on the critical intersections between SDG3, ‘Good Health and Wellbeing,’ and other SDGs, notably SDG8, ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth,’ and SDG13, ‘Climate Action.’ Recognizing that progress on UHC can reduce inequalities (SDG10) and enable equitable cancer care, ESMO called for reinforced commitments to healthcare workforce sustainability and the reduction of environmental risks, including air pollution as a critical factor linked to cancer risk—topics ESMO has been consistently vocal about.
While the final Pact makes broad commitments to UHC and decent working conditions, ESMO remains concerned that cancer care and health systems reform were not explicitly included. However, the society will continue to work for the interlinkages between health, equity, and sustainability to be better integrated into global governance.
For further updates on ESMO’s policy engagement and contributions to global health, visit the ESMO Policy News webpage.