Algerian Radio
The Minister of Health, Mr. Mohamed Seddik Aït Messouedene, received the Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization, Ms. Elisabete Weiderpass, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, according to a ministry statement on Sunday.
The meeting took place on Saturday on the sidelines of the International Meeting on Cancer Research, organized by the National Commission for Cancer Prevention and Control in Algiers. The session was attended by the Commission's President, Mr. Adda Bounedjar, and the President of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council (CREA), Mr. Kamel Moula, along with senior officials from the central administration.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister praised the role played by the IARC in supporting international efforts to combat cancer, promote scientific research, and develop knowledge related to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
He also reviewed the state of the national health system and the reforms underway, particularly in modernizing health information systems and developing digitalization. He highlighted the "importance of generalizing electronic medical records and the National Health Identifier to provide reliable health data that supports decision-making, contributes to the development of scientific and clinical research, and improves the quality of patient care."
In the same context, Mr. Aït Messouedene emphasized that scientific and clinical research constitute "one of the fundamental axes of the National Strategy for Cancer Prevention and Control 2025-2035, given its role in improving diagnostic and treatment methods and evaluating health programs."
He also stressed the "pivotal role" of local healthcare in prevention and early detection, "by strengthening primary healthcare services and intensifying awareness, sensitization, and early screening campaigns to allow for diagnosis in the early stages of the disease and increase survival rates."
The two parties discussed "ways to strengthen clinical research, develop cancer registries, and prepare a roadmap for early detection and vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which Algeria will launch during 2026-2027." They also explored the prospects of Algeria joining the IARC to support the exchange of scientific expertise.
For her part, Ms. Weiderpass praised Algeria's efforts to develop its health system, especially in prevention and local healthcare. She emphasized the "importance of continued investment in early detection programs, health awareness, and scientific research."
She confirmed the "readiness of the International Agency for Research on Cancer to support Algeria through scientific and methodological assistance, strengthening training for young researchers, and developing research cooperation and international partnerships."
In conclusion, both sides reaffirmed their "keenness to strengthen cooperation and benefit from the Agency's expertise, contributing to the development of prevention and care mechanisms and supporting research and innovation in the fight against cancer," the statement concluded.
