Across the world, cities are stepping up to tackle the growing burden of cancer, and Tbilisi, together with Kumasi, is proving to be at the forefront of this effort. In a major milestone for Georgia, the government and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) have signed a four-year Collaboration Agreement, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cancer care. This agreement, signed on February 13, 2025, signals a new phase of technical cooperation, ensuring that the progress made in Tbilisi’s first cycle of C/Can-supported initiatives continues to grow.
We renewed our Collaboration Agreement with an organisation that we have collaborated with successfully for over five years, positively impacting the outcomes for each cancer patient and enhancing the access to state of the art cancer care services in Georgia. It was especially important for us to deepen this collaboration, and consequently, we decided to sign an agreement for another four years, within which a number of very interesting initiatives are envisaged.
Said Mr. Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.
A Pivotal Moment for Georgia’s Cancer Care
Since joining the C/Can network in 2019, the city of Tbilisi has made significant strides in improving cancer care through nine successfully implemented projects. To kick-start the new cycle of technical interventions supported by C/Can, a series of strategic engagements with local stakeholders took place to co-design Tbilisi’s city program:
- A full-day design workshop to review key priorities and develop high-level concept notes for each prioritised thematic area that will be translated into project plans.
- A high-level presentation of outcomes of the design workshop to the Georgian National Cancer Board led by the Minister of Health of Georgia, that they endorsed.
- A gender equity consultation, part of C/Can’s “Cities Taking Action for Gender Equity in Cancer Care” global initiative, with participation from C/Can Board Member and The Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer Co-Chair Dr. Verna Vanderpuye. This consultation – first in a series that will later expand to León, Mexico and Nairobi, Kenya – focused on identifying gender-related barriers in cancer care, from systemic challenges to policy gaps, co-creating interventions that address gender inequities specific to Tbilisi’s healthcare landscape, and aligning gender equity strategies with the broader goals of the new city programme.
A Model for Regional and Global Progress
Through its ongoing efforts, Tbilisi is shaping up to be a regional model for cancer care, showcasing how structured technical cooperation can create a lasting impact. A key example of this is the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) Framework workshop, held to reassess city needs and develop a tailored Breast Cancer Action Plan (BCAP) for Tbilisi. This plan, created in partnership with WHO, ensures that efforts to improve breast cancer care are data-driven, context-specific, and aligned with global best practices. Also, insights gained from the gender equity consultation won’t stay in Tbilisi—they’ll serve as a blueprint for other C/Can cities, ensuring that the gender equity topic remains a core pillar of cancer care reform across regions.
A Commitment to Lasting Change
According to WHO data, more than 35 million new cancer cases are projected for 2050, representing a 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. Against this backdrop, Georgia’s vision and strong leadership remain pivotal in driving sustainable cancer care solutions. Building on the strong foundation laid during the first cycle, the government’s continued commitment in the ongoing second cycle ensures that progress is not only sustained but accelerated, addressing critical gaps and strengthening the country’s healthcare system for the future.
With support from C/Can, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), Tbilisi City Hall, and Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), Tbilisi is proving that collaborative, city-led action can reshape cancer care. As Tbilisi continues its transformation path, C/Can will proudly continue to provide support in the planning and execution of projects in thematic areas of technical cooperation interventions, including early cancer detection, timely cancer diagnostics and quality cancer management.
Tbilisi’s journey is proof that meaningful progress in cancer care comes from collaboration, innovation, and strong leadership. C/Can is proud to have all hands on deck, working alongside Georgia’s healthcare champions to ensure that every person affected by cancer benefits from sustainable, high-quality care.
Said Sophie Bussman-Kemdjo, Regional Director for Africa & Europe.
