A cross-sectional global policy analysis of the human gap in 156 national cancer strategy plans

Summary: Background: National Cancer Strategies (NCS), including National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) and Non-Communicable Disease Plans (NCDPs), shape priorities for cancer systems. Yet, little is known about whether they address human-centred care, including psychosocial support, equity, financial protection, and palliative care. We aimed to (1) assess the extent to which NCS include human-centred care themes relevant to sociocultural factors, systems of care, medical education, economic protection, mental health, and palliative care, and (2) compare inclusion across lower- and higher-income settings.