World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that countries across the world will see a 60 percent increase in cancer cases over the next two decades, unless cancer services are stepped up, especially in low and middle-income countries.
The WHO said the greatest increase (an estimated 81%) in new cases will occur in low- and middle-income countries, where survival rates are currently lowest.
This, according to WHO, is largely because these countries have had to focus limited health resources on combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health, while health services are not equipped to prevent, diagnose and treat cancers.
“In 2019, more than 90 percent of high-income countries reported that comprehensive treatment services for cancer were available in the public health system compared to less than 15 percent of low-income countries” , WHO said in a statement to commemorate the 2020 World Cancer day.
“This is a wake-up call to all of us to tackle the unacceptable inequalities between cancer services in rich and poor countries,” Ren Minghui, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/ Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO was quoted saying.
“If people have access to primary care and referral systems then cancer can be detected early, treated effectively and cured. Cancer should not be a death sentence for anyone, anywhere,” the WHO notes.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general, WHO, notes that at least 7 million lives could be saved over the next decade, by identifying the most appropriate science for each country situation, by basing strong cancer responses on universal health coverage, and by mobilising different stakeholders to work together.
WHO highlighted a wide range of proven interventions to prevent new cancer cases. These include controlling tobacco use, which is responsible for 25 percent of cancer deaths, vaccinating against hepatitis B to prevent liver cancer, eliminating cervical cancer by vaccinating against HPV, screening and treatment, implementing high-impact cancer management interventions that bring value for money and ensuring access to palliative care including pain relief.
“The past 50 years have seen tremendous advances in research on cancer prevention and treatment,” says Elisabete Weiderpass, director of IARC.
“Deaths from cancer have been reduced. High-income countries have adopted prevention, early diagnosis and screening programmes, which together with better treatment, have contributed to an estimated 20 percent reduction in the probability of premature mortality between 2000 and 2015, but low-income countries only saw a reduction of 5 percent. We need to see everyone benefitting equally.”
WHO says the challenge will be for countries to select treatments balancing considerations including cost, feasibility and effectiveness.
“Each government is tasked with choosing the appropriate innovative cancer therapies, while recognizing that established treatments, many of which are very effective and affordable, can provide benefits for cancer without causing financial hardship,” the statement reads.
