World Health Organization package of interventions for rehabilitation for cancer: a MASCC-endorsed resource for global action to address unmet rehabilitation needs of people affected by cancer

Rehabilitation is an essential component of universal health coverage, defined as a situation where all people receive the full spectrum of quality health services (promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care) that meet their needs without being exposed to financial hardship in paying for the services. Specifically, rehabilitation supports individuals of any age to be as independent as possible in activities of daily living, and enables participation in education, work, recreation, and meaningful life roles such as taking care of family. Globally, there are nearly 2.5 billion people living with a health condition that benefits from evidence-informed rehabilitation, which is anticipated to continually rise due to the evolving health status and characteristics of populations worldwide (i.e., people are living longer, with those aged over 60 years to double by 2050; many of whom will be living with more chronic diseases or disability). Unfortunately, this extensive need for rehabilitation is largely unmet even among high resource countries, and particularly in low-to-middle resource countries, where over 50% of their populations are not receiving the rehabilitation services they require.