Former Uruguayan president Tabaré Vázquez Rosas passed away on December 6th , 2020 in Montevideo, at the age of 80 after suffering from lung cancer.

He was an exceptional physician, specialised in radiation treatment and a prestigious politician.

Mayor of Montevideo 1990-1994 and president of Uruguay 2005-2010 and 2015-2020; the only world president being a radiotherapist.

He was a global leader in cancer control, an undisputed fighter against the use of tobacco and the defence of public health in Uruguay and in the world.

In 2010, after the implementation of measures to control the labelling and packaging of tobacco products in Uruguay, the tobacco company Philip Morris filed a lawsuit with the World Bank's International centre for settlement of investment disputes, alleging that the measures were in breach of a bilateral investment treaty.

In July 2016, however, an arbitration court upheld  Uruguay's right and obligation to protect the health of its population with measures in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

He was distinguished by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 2018 as a public health hero of the Americas for his fight against tobacco and his leadership in the protection and  promotion of health.

In May 2018, the former Uruguayan president also received the WHO Director-General's Special Recognition for World No Tobacco Day, the only special recognition given that year.

In one of his last interviews, he said that he “wanted to be remembered as a serious and responsible President.”

He recently led a group of experts in cancer, public health and economics from nine Latin American countries with the aim of analysing the delays in cancer care during the pandemic and estimating the possible impact on mortality in the medium and long term. The study also aimed at making concrete proposals to reduce the delays in cancer care and the mortality rate.

This is probably the last study about cancer in which he participated.

Eduardo Cazap MD, PhD, FASCO and the editor in-chief of ecancer says about him that: "We met each other for the first time in 1985, when both of us obtained a fellowship from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and within a month visited all the major comprehensive cancer centres of the USA. Our friendship has seen 35 years and I must say that today the world has lost a great politician, an outstanding doctor and, above all, a true gentleman."

"The death of our dear friend Professor Tabaré Vázquez constitutes a great loss for Latin America and world oncology - the only oncologist who served as president of the Republic in two democratic periods. It was an enormous privilege to have worked under his leadership on the Latin American Cancer post Covid 19 report, perhaps his latest scientific legacy for the entire region and the world. May God have it in his glory." says Dr. Carlos Vallejos Sologuren, former minister of health and director of the National Cancer Institute (INEN), Peru).

"I am really saddened to hear about the loss of President Tabaré Vázquez. I feel so blessed to have been able to know him. President Tabaré will be remembered for the fantastic human that he was." says  HRH Princess Dina Mired, Jordan and past president of the Union for International Cancer Control- UICC 

“Dr. Tabaré Vázquez was a consummate defender of public health.  His lifelong work demonstrates a deep personal commitment to improve the health and well-being, not only of Uruguayans, but  also of many others in the region and around the world,” said PAHO Director Carissa Etienne.