Report 2003 - Lebanese Cancer Society

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Objectives of the National Cancer Registry
The National Cancer Registry (NCR) is an information system designed for the
collection, storage, management, and analysis of data on cancers throughout
Lebanon. The major purposes of the Registry are:
• to establish and maintain a cancer incidence reporting system;
• to be an informational resource for the investigation of cancer and
its causes;
• to provide a primary source of unbiased population-based cases for
investigators seeking to conduct case-control or cohort studies, clinical trials
and survival analysis.
• to provide information to assist public health officials and agencies in the
planning and evaluation of the National Cancer Control Program.
1.2. Review of recent activities
NCR was officially restarted in 2002 under Minister Sleiman Frangieh. It
produced its first report “Cancer in Lebanon 2002” (www.leb.emro.who.int ) in
early 2003. That first report was based uniquely on passive, routine surveillance
procedures. This system is managed by the National Non-Communicable
Diseases Program (NCDP). Passive reporting originates from the Drug
Dispensing Center (DDC), managed by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).
DCC provides cancer drugs free of charge to patients with no health coverage,
estimated at 50% of the population. All eligible cancer patients who elect to use
the DDC services have to bring a completed report form (Annex 1) which is then
received and entered at NCDP. NCDP has also been receiving an annual report
of cancer cases diagnosed through UNRWA medical services.
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