Concepción, 25 November 2024 – With 19 local health leaders strategically united in Greater Concepción, the first governance meeting of the newly formed City Executive Committee (CEC) was held, as part of its ongoing commitment to improve cancer care in the city. The Committee, in collaboration with City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), will guide the development and implementation of improvements in cancer care. The group consists of 23 institutional representatives, including the Ministry of Health, the Chilean Commission for Nuclear Energy, the SEREMI of Health, Health Services, FONASA, the Superintendence of Health, Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, Professional Associations, and Civil Society Organizations. This multisectoral collaboration aims to address inequalities in access to cancer care, improve the quality of care, and streamline processes such as diagnostic response times.
At this inaugural meeting to form the City Executive Committee for the City Cancer Challenge, I, as the health authority, assumed the responsibility to lead and drive the initial process of this important organization. We consider cancer to be an issue of great relevance for the citizens of Greater Concepción, Biobío, and the country in general. In this context, we have taken full responsibility for leading this process during our health management period, with the goal of adequately responding to the community’s needs,
said Dr. Eduardo Barra Jofré, Regional Ministerial Secretary of Health for Biobío.
For the Ministry of Health, it is essential to have specific diagnostics and work plans tailored to each territory, as a territorial approach is key in implementing both the National Cancer Law and the National Cancer Plan. In this context, nationally we are conducting the imPACT evaluation, managed through the International Atomic Energy Agency, which directly aligns with and complements this local initiative. Together, these efforts will contribute to the comprehensive control of cancer in our country,
explained Dr. Sung H. Kim, Head of the National Cancer Prevention and Control Agency of the Ministry of Health.
Concepción became the fifteenth city to join the C/Can network in March 2024, formalising its collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can), the Regional Government, the Presidential Delegation, the Concepción and Talcahuano Health Services, the SEREMI of Health, and the Municipality of Concepción, among other regional authorities and institutions. This agreement highlights the city’s commitment to tackling the cancer challenge.
Last month, the city organised a workshop with 64 representatives from 29 institutions to ensure the involvement of all local and regional institutions in cancer care delivery. This workshop also included a collaborative vote on committee members, empowering local leaders to take control and promote sustainable change.
This milestone marks a significant step in our mission to ensure that everyone, regardless of location or background, has access to quality oncological care. This committee reflects a joint effort that will allow us to develop data-driven solutions tailored to the local context, with a lasting impact that will not only benefit Greater Concepción but also serve as a model for other cities in Chile and the region,
said Dr. Maria Fernanda Navarro, Regional Director for Latin America at C/Can.
In March 2025, these institutions will meet to collect city-level data to identify the most urgent gaps and challenges in cancer care. The insights gained from this analysis will enable local experts to develop tailored solutions and interventions that can also be replicated in other parts of Chile.
The formation of the City Executive Committee (CEC) brings together leaders and local experts, from both the public and private sectors, in a common mission: to close the gaps in access to care, optimise diagnostic and treatment processes, and ensure timely, humanized, and quality cancer care. With an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, this initiative not only seeks to address a local challenge but also aims to become a scalable model for all of Chile. Furthermore, it represents a valuable opportunity for the Regional Government to align multisectoral efforts, with international cooperation, to improve oncological services in the region, working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health to advance toward a more equitable and effective cancer system,
said Miguel Ángel Jiménez Ceballos, City Manager for Concepción.
