Policy to progress: embedding enforcement in Asian NCCPs

The study by Laureline Gatellier and colleagues (August, 2025)1 reveals substantial weaknesses in Asia's National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs).1 The authors’ findings underscore the urgent need for a shift from aspirational policy to enforceable action.2 Most plans address prevention, yet less than 60% include legal mandates or evaluation mechanisms. In the absence of any enforceable frameworks, NCCPs are likely to remain aspirational instead of being functional. This challenge is exemplified in countries such as Bangladesh, where the 2008 NCCP does not have statutory authority, dedicated funding, and population-based registries.