Call to improve radiotherapy access for all as shortfall looms

London: As per a recent study, tackling the global shortfall in radiotherapy could save millions of lives and boost the economy of poorer countries.

Millions of people are dying from potentially treatable cancers like breast and prostate because of a chronic underinvestment in radiotherapy resources, according to the research.

New estimates produced for the Commission reveal that 204 million fractions of radiotherapy will be needed to treat the 12 million cancer patients worldwide who could benefit from treatment in 2035.

Despite the enormity of the problem, say the authors, the cost per fraction is highly cost-effective and very low compared to the high price of many new cancer drugs.

The Commission estimates that full access to radiotherapy could be achieved for all patients in need in low-and middle income countries (LMIC) by 2035 for as little as USD 97 billion, with potential health benefits of 27 million life years saved, and economic benefits ranging from USD 278 billion to USD 365 billion over the next 20 years.

There is a widespread misconception that the costs of providing radiotherapy put it beyond the reach of all but the richest countries. Nothing could be further from the truth, says Commission author Rifat Atun from Harvard University, adding that the work clearly shows that not only can this essential service be deployed safely and high quality treatment delivered in low- and middle-income countries, but that scale-up of radiotherapy capacity is a feasible and highly cost-effective investment.

The Commission exposes the reality of radiotherapy services on a country-by-country basis across the world and, for the first time, calculates the costs and benefits of meeting the worldwide shortfall in resources and bridging the gap in access to effective treatment.

New estimates produced for the Commission find that in 2035 over 12 million new cancer patients could benefit from radiotherapy treatment. Yet, worldwide access to radiotherapy is unacceptably low, with only 40-60 percent of cancer patients having access to this vital treatment.

Even in high-income countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK, numbers of radiotherapy facilities, equipment, and trained staff are inadequate. Access is worst in low-income countries where as many as nine out of 10 people cannot access radiotherapy treatment. The problem of access is especially acute in Africa, where in most countries radiotherapy treatment is virtually non-existent, and where 40 countries have no radiotherapy facilities at all.

The time has come to agree and implement immediate actions to tackle the global shortfall in radiotherapy services and the crisis of access to this highly effective treatment, concludes Atun.

The study is published in The Lancet Oncology.