GCCA PROGRAMS

Transforming Policy

Advocate for colorectal cancer policy change with the Transforming Policy toolkit and Policy Scorecard.

Transforming Policy

OVERVIEW

Why Transforming Policy?

The GCCA Transforming Policy program aims to advance colorectal cancer policy change through supporting patient advocacy groups’ efforts. With the Policy Scorecard for Colorectal Cancer and the Transforming Policy toolkit, this initiative serves as a starting point and guide to effecting policy change around the world.

The global incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing; mortality is increasing too.

graphical representation of diagnoses and deaths from colon cancer

In addition to these devastating human costs, the economic burden of CRC is projected to reach INT$2.8 trillion globally between 2020 and 2050.

There are effective screening tests for colorectal cancer. There are effective treatments for colorectal cancer. But access to these screening tests and treatments is insufficient. This can be addressed through transforming colorectal cancer policy.

SCORECARD

The Policy Scorecard for Colorectal Cancer

The Policy Scorecard is a data tool that supports policy decision-making. Policy Scorecards provide context for a country’s CRC policy state and support effective communication with policy decision-makers and other stakeholders. The scorecard can help identify gaps, as well as function as a tool to monitor progress, and to celebrate and recognize the advances being made. The scorecard was developed by identifying the relevant public policy action areas and their ideal state, including:

  • CRC is a national priority and policies exist to address community needs
  • healthcare budgeting for CRC exists
  • programs address timeliness of diagnosis and access to innovative treatments
  • equitable access to diagnosis and treatment exists
  • clinical practice guidelines are developed and updated  reimbursement exists for innovative technologies and treatments

Intermediate steps toward each ideal were chosen as indicators, and publicly available information from reliable sources was used to determine the country’s current status on each indicator. A score was given to each indicator status, and results were calculated for an overall score.

WiSE Policy Scorecard

SCORECARD

A benchmark of excellence-developed by Policy Wisdom

Policy Wisdom is a public health policy consulting company founded in 2010 with the ambitious goal of playing a role in every worldwide public health policy. It provides organizations with the strategies, tools, and vision necessary to achieve their public health policy goals. It also shapes public health policies by working with the full spectrum of individuals—from policy makers to those who guide their thinking—at governmental and non-governmental organizations and in the public and private sector.
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With its evidence-based approach and methodology, Policy Wisdom developed the WiSE SCORECARDS, a tool that supports policy decision-making and helps to systematically measure the current state of policies and actions against the ideal or optimal state of such policies. With WiSE SCORECARDS, users can confidently navigate their decision-making process, ensuring policies align with their desired outcomes.

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TOOLKIT

The Transforming Policy Toolkit

GCCA has developed this toolkit to guide colorectal cancer patient advocates in policy change efforts worldwide. The toolkit has tips for effective policy advocacy, including how to make the most of social media and how to join efforts with other advocates. It includes a checklist to help advocates organize their policy goals and strategy, from identifying their specific issue to finding the right policymakers to approach. The Transforming Policy toolkit contains a sample letter to policymakers and the WiSE Policy Scorecard for Colorectal Cancer, a tool advocates can use to present information to policymakers to support their policy requests.

Download the toolkit