Paediatric Oncology Forum of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: An Advocacy Experience Involving Public Managers, Health Professionals, Specialists, and Civil Society to Debate and Propose Public Policies for Childhood Cancer
Authors: Marques R. , d. E.K. , Pires L.D.J.A. 
Published: September 2018

Background and context: Although it´s the first cause of death by disease, among ages from 1-19 in Brazil, childhood cancer isn´t a priority to public managers. In addition, cancer care network has weaknesses from early diagnosis to treatment, lack of qualified data, disarticulation among different levels of government and lack of professional training. Aim: Pediatric Oncology Forum aims to promote the redefinition and implementation of public policies that will lead to early diagnosis and fast access to high-quality treatment. Strategy/Tactics: Since 2005, a group of public managers, specialized services and civil society has worked to consolidate the “Unidos pela Cura” as a policy to promote early diagnosis of childhood cancer in Rio de Janeiro. However, other issues have emerged as fundamentals to strengthen cancer care network and also required participation of other governmental bodies and expertise. It was when the Pediatric Oncology Forum of Rio de Janeiro arose, a voice to speak the demands and also to propose public policies that ensure comprehensive, efficient and quality care of childhood cancer. Since 2011, every two years, Desiderata Institute leads the event, where about 300 people, including managers, policy makers, health professionals, national and international specialists, and civil society institutions participate in lectures and courses during three days. For its operational, programmatic and mainly for coresponsibility organization, the forum is organized by an organizing committee composed by agents from estate and municipal governments, as well as the National Cancer Institute, specialized hospitals of Rio de Janeiro and the civil society involved in the cause. Program: The forum is organized on the following pillars: knowledge - bringing national and international experiences on childhood cancer and opening a space for exchanges and networking; training - with lectures and courses; working groups - specialists and public managers in elaborating proposals to qualify public policies; recommendation letter - a document with the proposals and their responsible ones, allowing monitoring of each forum; and advocacy - targeting childhood cancer in the public agenda and the mass media. Outcomes: From the forum, many changes have occurred including: increase of public professional training to identify signs and symptoms of childhood cancer; inclusion of childhood cancer in the National Policy on Children´s Health (PNAISC); organization of a common childhood cancer guide for patients and parents; implementation of hospital cancer registries in all the hospitals licensed in pediatric oncology in the State of Rio de Janeiro, but one. What was learned: The creation of a permanent space to debate and propose with specific focus on pediatric oncology is a result in itself and has gained national expression, given its exclusivity and participative form of elaboration.

[Figure: see text][Figure: see text][Figure: see text]