Millions of people die of cancer due to inequality

Ground Report | New Delhi: Millions people die of cancer; Cancer claimed 10 million lives in 2021 and disproportionately affected low- and middle-income countries, according to an analysis by two United Nations agencies as this Friday, the 4th, is commemorated as the world day to fight that disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the trend indicates that cases, 20 million last year, will continue to increase, and 70% of deaths will be recorded in those countries. in development, towards the year 2040.

Both agencies, involved in the fight against the disease throughout the world, regretted that such a high number of deaths occur "from a condition that can be treated in all its types and that in many cases is preventable and curable."

One reason is that cancer care, like that for so many other diseases, reflects inequalities, with a gap allowing comprehensive treatment in more than 90% of cases in high-income countries, versus a rate of 15% in low-income nations. low income

Similarly, survival for children diagnosed with cancer is greater than 80% in high-income countries and less than 30% in low- and middle-income countries. For breast cancer survival five years after diagnosis, it exceeds 80% in most high-income countries, compared to 66% in India and just 40% in South Africa, for example.

The agencies emphasized that a cancer diagnosis can push families into poverty, particularly in low-income countries, since only 37% of them cover cancer treatments within their public health system.

This situation has been exacerbated during the covid-19 pandemic, to whose attention already scarce resources have been drained in many countries. This year, the world day against cancer strives to reduce this inequity in access to diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The WHO and the IAEA indicated that recommended interventions to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases have not been implemented, and that their treatment remains inaccessible in many parts of the world.

For example, about half of people diagnosed with cancer may require radiotherapy as part of their care - a proportion that rises in countries where the disease is often detected late - and many countries do not have a single machine to give the treatment. That disparity is particularly acute in Africa, where nearly 70% of countries reported that radiation therapy is generally not available to their populations.

They recalled that addressing the burden of cancer requires "a multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach based on universal health coverage for effective prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliation of the disease."

The efforts of the WHO focus on breast cancer, which has become the most common; cervical cancer, which can be removed; and childhood cancer. The focus of each of these initiatives is low- and middle-income countries, where the greatest public health benefits will be realized.

The WHO and IAEA report recognized that these global initiatives are possible with the participation of more than 200 partners, including many development banks that have increased their investments in cancer research, prevention and care.

According to the report, so far the agencies "have successfully supported more than 90 governments through programs against cervical, childhood and breast cancer." The IAEA launched this February 4 the “Rays of Hope” initiative, which seeks to close the global gap in cancer care by addressing the serious shortage of care capacity in many countries.

The project's initial focus will be on Africa, where people often die from the disease because they lack access to life-saving nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. The IAEA stressed that even relatively small investments will make a significant difference. He gave as an example that with 7.5 million dollars it is possible to establish and operate a radiotherapy unit capable of treating 500 patients a year.

A great hope held by the WHO and the IAEA is that research and development regarding the disease may produce more effective treatment solutions in the future.

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