The burden of cancer, a leading cause of premature mortality, is increasing globally. An estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million cancer-related deaths were reported worldwide in 2020. Cancer-related mortality is disproportionately higher in low-income and middle-income countries (estimated at 71%) than in high-income countries (estimated at 29%).1
Health is a fundamental human right. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to improve the well-being of the world population. To achieve SDG 3, that is, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, universal health coverage (UHC) is widely promoted, the aim of which is to ensure that all people have access to the health services they need, whenever and wherever they need them, without having to experience any financial hardship.2,3 In line with this goal, there is a need to enhance UHC to cover the entire cancer continuum, that is, from prevention and early detection to treatment, survivorship care, and palliative care. Cancer care services must be physically accessible (availability of health services within reasonable reach), financially affordable (people's ability to pay for services without financial hardship), and acceptable to patients (people's willingness to seek services).4
The WHO has designated 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers to acknowledge their devotion to providing care during and regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic that has challenged health systems globally. During the 73rd World Health Assembly, Member States emphasized the vital role of health and care workers in ensuring the health and well-being of individuals and communities.5 In particular, the contributions of nurses to global health have been recognized by the WHO in the past 2 years: last year was designated as the International Year of Nurses and Midwives, and this year is designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers. Nurses account for nearly half of the health workforce worldwide. With the right knowledge, skills, opportunities, and financial support, nurses can work in various healthcare settings and reach people in need of improved accessibility to cancer care services, thereby making a major contribution to the achievement of UHC.
The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, Asian Oncology Nursing Society, European Oncology Nursing Society, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, and Oncology Nursing Society have developed a joint position statement on cancer nurses' potential to reduce the growing burden of cancer worldwide that provides a list of examples of cancer nurses' contributions across the cancer trajectory to reduce the global burden of cancer.6 The specific impacts of cancer nurses' contributions include, but are not limited to, increased rates of cancer screening uptake, increased rates of patient adherence to follow-up appointments and proper care, reduced rates of postoperative complications, increased effectiveness of symptom management, and decreased healthcare costs.7 These reports indicate that cancer nurses can play a significant role in increasing UHC by enhancing the accessibility and acceptability of cancer care services to all people at affordable costs.
The overarching theme of International Nurses Day in 2021 is "Nurses: A Voice to Lead-A Vision for Health Care," which also reflects the global impact of the cancer nursing workforce on reducing the burden of cancer. Cancer nurses play a vital role in accomplishing the SDGs through the achievement of UHC across the cancer continuum. Their contributions could be further optimized by providing them with more leadership opportunities and greater engagement in policy making regarding future cancer care services to make the services more accessible, financially affordable, and acceptable to patients and their families.
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