The global cancer burden is growing at “an alarming pace,” quotes the 2014 World Cancer Report, produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The IARC, the cancer research agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO), produces the report every five years, with this edition released in early February, 2014. The report can be purchased here. 

Containing over 60 chapters written by global cancer experts, the report contains research on the geographical distribution, biology, etiology, prevention, and control of cancer and will provide a valuable resource for healthcare professionals across the world.

However, the cost of reading the World Cancer Report has raised concerns among advocates for accessible healthcare information. “I went to look at the 630-page report, only to find that it is not freely available,” states Neil Pakenham-Walsh, coordinator of the Healthcare Information for All campaign and co-director of the Global Healthcare Information Network. “The electronic version costs 60 Swiss francs (50 USD) - 35 Swiss francs for those in developing countries.” 

Producing this globally relevant cancer research in a non-open-access format may limit the ability of healthcare workers in developing countries to obtain this information. Critically, an article summarising the World Cancer Report in the British Medical Journal states that the majority of cancers occur in developing countries, which also claim the majority of cancer deaths. 

“It doesn't make sense to me why there should be a barrier to such an important e-publication,” says Pakenham-Walsh. “The public health benefits of open access surely outweigh the small income that the IARC might derive from sale of the report.”

The World Health Organisation has announced a new open-access policy on all WHO-funded research, which will take effect in July 2014. This open-access policy will make WHO-produced research more readily available to all.