Today, the team at Livi UK, along with our partners at Boots, are proud to mark and celebrate World Cancer Day.
Created at the turn of this millennium by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), every 4th February the world unites to raise awareness of cancer, to improve cancer education and to call us to action. The goal of the UICC is to reduce the incidence of preventable cancer deaths and to campaign for equal access for all – no matter who you are or where you live – to essential and life-saving cancer treatments and care.
The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day is ‘I am and I will’ and it reminds us that, if we are to have an impact on this dreaded disease, then we must act positively. If we are to achieve the goal of reducing premature deaths due to cancer by a third by the year 2030, we have to stand up as well as speak out.
In the United Kingdom and throughout the world, another dread disease, Covid-19, has for over a year now, taken loved ones from us, imposed unwelcome solitude, restricted our liberties and blighted our lives. Here at home, the NHS and its brilliant, brave and committed staff, have battled to continue to provide the high levels of free and accessible care we are so fortunate to receive in the UK.
In order to face down the threat posed by the pandemic, the NHS has inevitably had to pause or postpone crucial treatment, including for cancer patients faced with a fight for their lives. Last summer, Livi UK was proud to announce a new partnership with Boots and its 2,000-strong Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists (BMIP). By making the Livi Connect digital platform available, we were able to offer the BMIP service to vulnerable and shielding patients, digitally, free of charge. Since then, our online service has allowed cancer patients to have access to highly-trained healthcare professionals from the comfort of their own homes, quickly and safely.
I said at the time that “the coronavirus outbreak highlighted the critical need for better access to high-quality digital healthcare.” Since then, to its great credit, the NHS has made a once-in-a-generation shift and recognised that digital technology can play a vital role in helping maintain continuity of care for some of our most vulnerable and in-need. Digital technology gives us the precious means to increase accessibility to healthcare, not just in times of crisis, but in better times too. So we are continuing to work with our friends at Boots to increase accessibility across the healthcare sector. Our shared hope is to transform for the better the way that people experience quality digital-first healthcare, advice and medicines into the future.
Our work on cancer care with BMIP is just the start. But this day; today of all days; World Cancer Day; we are reminded of the scale of the healthcare challenges that remain before us. The continued needless suffering of millions, the lack of any access to healthcare still borne by many, and the obligations upon us to do what we can to help people when they need help most.
Juliet Bauer, UK Managing Director, Livi
