A joint programme on cancer control between WHO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , Vienna, was established in March 2009. The main aim of the programme is to coordinate activities and resources to provide evidence-based and sustainable support to comprehensive cancer control programmes in various countries.

The cancer control programme seeks to raise cancer awareness, assess cancer control needs, develop cancer control demonstration projects and attract bilateral or multilateral donors in order to establish effective new funding mechanisms beyond those currently available from WHO and the IAEA.

Based on a request from the Ministry of Health, an IAEA/WHO team is scheduled to visit Oman in early 2013 to conduct an in-depth and systematic assessment of the country’s cancer control capacities and needs in all areas of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care, and to explore ways to deal with cancer in a comprehensive and cost-effective way to achieve the maximum clinical and public health impact from the country’s investments. This mission will be carried out in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the IAEA National Liaison Office, the WHO Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the WHO/Oman country office.