Welcoming Mr. Omar Ali as Keynote Speaker at Cancer & Medical Oncology Conference 2027
Welcoming Mr. Omar Ali as Keynote Speaker at Cancer & Medical Oncology Conference 2027
The 13th International Cancer and Medical Oncology Conference & Exhibition welcomes a leading voice on how health systems pay for new cancer medicines.
Introduction: When Science Outpaces Budgets
Cancer medicine has never moved faster. Immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates and cell therapies are giving patients options that did not exist a decade ago. But every breakthrough raises a hard question: can health systems actually pay for it?
That question sits at the centre of a keynote we are delighted to announce for the 13th International Cancer and Medical Oncology Conference & Exhibition. Mr. Omar Ali will present “Can We Afford a Cure? Paying for Innovation with New Cancer Medicines.”
Meet the Keynote Speaker: Omar Ali
Head of Payers, Verpora
Visiting Lecturer, VBA/IC Medicines
Former Adviser, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)
With a background in clinical pharmacy, experience advising NICE, and a current role focused on payers, Mr. Ali brings a perspective that connects the clinic, the regulator and the budget holder. That is precisely the viewpoint needed to understand why a proven therapy can still be out of reach for the patient who needs it.
The Cost of Cancer Innovation: What the Data Shows
The financial pressure behind this keynote is measurable. Recent global figures show how quickly the field is changing:
- Spending is growing fast. According to the IQVIA Institute’s Global Oncology Trends 2025 report, oncology medicine spending grew by an average of 11.9% a year between 2020 and 2024.
- Innovation is accelerating. The same report notes an average of 26 new oncology active substances launched each year from 2020 to 2024, compared with 16 a year in the five years before.
- New modalities are expanding. Cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates and multispecific antibodies now account for 35% of oncology trials.
- Access is uneven. IQVIA also warns that these shifts may widen disparities in access to cancer care in low- and middle-income countries and across demographic groups.
- The disease burden is rising. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimated about 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, and projects around 35 million new cases by 2050.
More patients, more effective medicines and higher prices all point in the same direction: the way we pay for cancer care has to evolve.
What the Keynote Will Explore
The session invites delegates to look beyond the science and into the systems that decide whether a medicine reaches patients. Key themes include:
1. Rewarding innovation fairly
New cancer medicines take years and significant investment to develop. How can systems recognise genuine clinical benefit while keeping innovation sustainable?
2. Value, evidence and access decisions
Health technology assessment bodies and payers weigh clinical benefit against cost. Understanding how those decisions are made helps clinicians and industry prepare stronger evidence and advocate more effectively.
3. New pricing and payment models
From managed access to outcomes-based approaches and the growing role of biosimilars, the payment landscape is changing. Delegates will gain a practical view of what is working and what is still being tested.
4. Equity in cancer care
A medicine only helps those who can receive it. The talk speaks to the challenge of narrowing the gap between what is possible and what is accessible, in the Gulf region and worldwide.
Why This Session Matters for You
- Oncologists and clinicians: understand the access barriers your patients face and how to navigate them.
- Researchers and industry professionals: learn what payers look for when evaluating new therapies.
- Healthcare leaders and policymakers: explore sustainable approaches to funding innovation.
- Pharmacists and healthcare students: see how clinical, economic and policy thinking come together.
Conference Details
📅 Dates: February 1–2, 2027
📍 Venue: Novotel Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
🎓 Accreditation: CME/CPD credit available (30 hours ACCME and CPD accreditation noted on the conference programme)
Beyond this keynote, the programme covers cancer care, innovation, research and the evolving landscape of oncology, with an exhibition and plenty of time to network with peers.
Conclusion: The Question Every Oncology Professional Must Answer
Cancer treatment is advancing rapidly, and so are its costs. Global spending is on course to climb from $252 billion in 2024 to $441 billion by 2029, while patient need continues to grow. Whether a cure is truly a cure depends on whether people can access it.
Mr. Omar Ali’s keynote promises a candid, practical and forward-looking conversation on how we can pay for innovation without leaving patients behind. It is a session no one involved in cancer care should miss.
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