Saudi Health Council marks World Cancer Day with updates on cancer care initiatives
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- 9 hours ago
- 1 min read
RIYADH, February 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Saudi Health Council highlighted measures it has taken to develop and regulate healthcare services for cancer patients in the Kingdom to mark World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4.
Key steps included establishing the National Cancer Center under the council, developing quality standards and evaluation frameworks for oncology services, centres and departments, and creating a fast-track pathway for the admission of acute leukemia cases across all government health sectors.
On the international side, the council cited Saudi Arabia’s accession as a member of the International Agency for Research on Cancer at the World Health Organization and participation in the CONCORD Programme on cancer survival rates.
The council said it published 27 national reports on cancer incidence rates, contributing to the Kingdom ranking among the top 10 G20 countries in survival rates for the most common cancer types. It reported survival rates of 76% for breast cancer, 82% for prostate cancer and 61% for colorectal cancer.
The National Cancer Center’s mandate includes developing national strategies to control cancer, monitoring trends, improving comprehensive services, tracking treatment outcomes, supporting research and development, and coordinating efforts across health sectors and relevant entities.
