Implementing an NCCP

As countries transition from developing a National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) to implementing it, several strategies can help ensure effective execution: 

• Engage communities and advocates to build broad support for implementing the NCCP.
• Establish and maintain a partnership structure—such as a national technical working group—by building on the partners involved in developing the plan.
• Assign clear responsibilities for implementation, such as designated staff from the Ministry of Health, to guide activities and manage partnerships.
• Select priority actions from the NCCP to focus on during the first 1–2 years. Concentrating efforts will help drive progress; once these are achieved, new priorities can be selected.
• Develop a written implementation plan that outlines specific tasks, responsible parties, timelines, resource requirements, and indicators to track progress.
• Leverage existing systems and resources by aligning implementation efforts with ongoing non-communicable disease programs and partners.
• Assess available and needed resources, including creating a budget for NCCP implementation.
• Monitor and evaluate implementation progress and share results with key stakeholders.
• Invest in training and capacity building to equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills to carry out the NCCP.
• Create a research agenda aligned with the NCCP to support continuous improvement and expansion of cancer care.