WHO CALLS FOR AN END TO WORLDWIDE INEQUALITIES IN CANCER TREATMENT

Sat 05 February 2022:

The World Health Organization (WHO) urged for the availability of cancer care in high- and low-income countries to be addressed on World Cancer Day on Friday.

According to the WHO, cancer is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide, with a projected 20 million people diagnosed and 10 million people dying from it in 2021.

These figures will continue to climb in the next decades, according to the report.

Though all cancers can be treated and many can be prevented or cured, available care reflects global inequality. Comprehensive treatment is available in more than 90 percent of high-income countries, but less than 15 percent of low-income countries, WHO said.

Cancer services are covered by national healthcare services in only 37 percent of low- and middle-income countries, compared to at least 78 percent of high-income countries.

WHO emphasized the importance of national cancer centers, stating that they may serve as a one-stop shop for cancer prevention, diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment, and supportive care, making it easier for patients to navigate services with specialized knowledge and resulting in improved outcomes.

Radiotherapy is one of the most cost-effective, efficient, and commonly utilized cancer treatments, although global availability is still limited. Many nations have also seen disruptions in cancer screening and treatment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WHO.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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