The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a training manual to help countries establish or strengthen breast cancer prevention and care programmes, supporting earlier detection, timely diagnosis and improved treatment outcomes.
The Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) Training Manual provides practical, step-by-step guidance for programme managers, healthcare professionals and implementation partners. It covers the full continuum of breast cancer care, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, health technologies, multidisciplinary care and patient navigation.
WHO emphasises that countries should aim to diagnose at least 60% of new breast cancer cases at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be effective, better tolerated and less costly.
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The manual translates WHO’s global recommendations into approaches that can be adapted to national and local healthcare settings, helping strengthen capacity at national, regional and facility levels.
Following its release on 19 October 2026, several countries expressed interest in using the resource. The GBCI is working with partners in Ethiopia, Eswatini and the Philippines to adapt the training materials to local needs and integrate them into existing national training programmes.
The publication marks a step towards expanding the implementation of WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative and strengthening healthcare systems’ capacity to deliver timely, comprehensive breast cancer care.
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