From strategy to action: assessing approaches and models to the design and implementation of national cancer control plans

Focusing on high‑ and upper‑middle‑income countries with long‑standing experience in cancer planning, the report draws lessons from nations that have implemented successive National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) over more than a decade. Moving beyond plan design, it explores the governance structures, partnerships, financing arrangements and system‑level conditions needed to deliver real‑world impact.
Using a mixed‑methods approach, the study combines global desk‑based analysis with in‑depth interviews conducted between June and August 2025 across nine countries. The findings highlight common enablers of NCCP implementation, such as strong governance, prioritisation, aligned financing and political commitment, as well as persistent barriers including unclear funding and fragmented responsibilities. Together, these insights offer practical guidance for cancer planners and policymakers working to strengthen NCCP delivery and accelerate progress in cancer control.