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ICEDOC

Vienna, 25 September 1996

The Vienna Statement

The founding statement of ICEDOC, declared to the world at its first meeting in Vienna.

To the human community. To all health authorities and governmental and non-governmental cancer organizations in the world. To eminent personalities, politicians and industrialists, to all who are concerned with cancer problems, and to all cancer management manufacturers.

As you know, in spite of all the existing efforts, reasonable cancer therapy is available for only 10–15% of the cancer patients in the world. This lack is evident in medical and radiation oncology and in good palliative and supportive care. This tragic situation should not continue. ICEDOC is established for this purpose.

ICEDOC is an independent committee. It is not in competition with existing organizations, societies and authorities, and it encourages full cooperation and coordination with all of them. It is not founded to duplicate them but to complement them. One of its innovative approaches is to group the views and efforts of volunteer oncologists, experts, cancer treatment manufacturers, authorities, administrators and eminent personalities towards increasing facilities in existing cancer centers and establishing more cancer management units all over the world.

As its name shows, the main objective of ICEDOC is to increase and to improve cancer management facilities in the world.

The first preliminary manuscript of this statement was formulated by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Elzawawy (Egypt) in April 1993. In Vienna, on 25 September 1996, the board of ICEDOC and the attendants of the founding meeting declared ICEDOC to the world as a house of volunteer experts and consultants, serving all health authorities and all who are concerned with cancer problems, increasing cancer management facilities, cancer prevention and cancer education.

The main principles

  • Not competitors but allies with all.
  • With all, towards increasing cancer management facilities.
  • Classic and innovative approaches.

We believe that cooperation and coordination between organizations strengthen the action of each organization and the overall action. ICEDOC works in linked circles, both within its own subgroups and in cooperation with governmental and non-governmental activities. We encourage distinguished members of other organizations to be liaison members of ICEDOC. The situation is so tragic that we must cooperate.

The ICEDOC groups

  1. Therapy and drug development in second and third world countries. This covers all kinds of therapy: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, supportive care and more. Anticancer protocols and combinations can be tailored to specific regional conditions. Therapeutic trials can be conducted in selected regions under the follow-up of ICEDOC volunteer consultants and manufacturers. This can improve treatment and the reporting of results in those areas, and assure respect for the ethical aspects of the trials, for the benefit of patients with low economic resources. For companies, time can be saved in conducting trials, and the information on and uses of certain drugs and combinations may grow. At ICEDOC we are practical and romantic at the same time: we cannot involve manufacturers in our noble goals without probable or even sure gain for them, so in every step we try to combine reality and hope.
  2. Task force for the establishment and development of oncology centers. The house of volunteer experts and consultants who advise on how to establish comprehensive oncology units where these facilities are lacking, and how to improve centers that already exist. The advice is tailored to the past, present and prospects of each area.
  3. Technology Development and Transfer (ICEDOC TDT). Development of technology and research, and their transfer in a way that is applicable and tailored to each area. These modifications may also have scientific and economic value for users, manufacturers and humanity. The ways of transfer should use the evolving means of communication and computers.
  4. International relationships and liaison affairs. This group works with the other groups to build everyday relationships and cooperation with all who would like to cooperate or coordinate with ICEDOC. We adopt the concept of open doors for all.

In addition, there are educational coordinators and fund-raising coordinators.

ICEDOC will hold annual meetings and side meetings at selected international conferences. Honorary and active membership can be presented to all who support or help in any way to achieve the noble goals of ICEDOC for the sake of cancer patients. ICEDOC welcomes all cooperation, suggestions and comments.

Finally, we are all aware of the screaming of millions of cancer patients, the members of their families and their surroundings. “Please, don’t forget us.” We swear that we will not forget them.

The board of ICEDOC (see the attached list).