Doha: Experts have made a call for greater investment in cancer research and treatment at the WISH 2024 global healthcare summit - warning that, without it, the world's health systems face severe strain. According to Qatar News Agency, the discussion focused on the societal and economic burden of breast and cervical cancers and outlined how an increasingly ageing society, coupled with poor lifestyle choices, is leading to more cancer deaths. This discussion was part of the opening day of the two-day event hosted by Qatar Foundation's World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), which concludes on 14 November. In the session titled 'The Case for Investing in Women's Cancer Care,' Dr. Lamia Mahmoud, the World Health Organization's Regional Advisor for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention, highlighted the cancer situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. She emphasized that the mortality-to-incidence ratio indicates more women are dying in this region than in others worldwide. Mahmoud stressed the need for inv estment in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, citing research that estimates the economic burden of breast and cervical cancer was US$15 billion in 2020, with projections reaching US$379 billion by 2040. These figures account for healthcare costs, societal costs, and the value lost to society through women's premature deaths. HE Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Founder and Chairman of Qatar Cancer Society, discussed the significant stigma surrounding these diseases, which causes reluctance in discussing them. He noted that despite progress in recent decades, there remains much work to be done in changing public perception and approach. Dr. Jennifer Huang Bouey, Chair of the Department of Global Health at Georgetown University, underscored that the combination of increasing lifespans and lifestyle changes, such as poor diet and lack of physical activity, is leading to more cancer deaths. She emphasized the critical need for investment in cancer treatment to prevent overwhelming global health sy stems. Bouey highlighted the potential increase in treatment effectiveness through clinical trials and new developments. She advocated for primary prevention, such as lifestyle changes and increased cancer awareness, as the most cost-effective strategy. Furthermore, secondary prevention, involving screening and early detection using portable technology, is essential for reaching women in remote areas. WISH 2024, held at Qatar National Convention Centre, is themed 'Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity and Resilience' and is addressing some of the world's most pressing health issues. The summit has gathered over 200 health experts and around 3,000 delegates to discuss evidence-based ideas and practices in healthcare innovation, aiming to tackle the world's urgent global health challenges.