A new World Health Organization (WHO) report warns that scientific breakthroughs in oncology aren’t reaching millions of patients due to “persistent and widening” inequities in healthcare access. While survival rates for breast and childhood cancers exceed 85% in wealthy nations, they drop below 30% in poorer countries, according to WHO data.
The Scale of the Global Cancer Burden
WHO estimates indicate that one in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, and 92% of people will be touched by the disease either through a personal diagnosis or that of a close family member. Current data shows approximately 20.6m new cases and 10m deaths annually. Projections suggest these figures will climb to nearly 35m cases by 2050.
Dr. Andre Ilbawi, team lead for cancer control at the WHO, noted that while the narrative of new technologies and treatment hope is true, it doesn’t represent the full reality for patients in low-resource settings.
Disparities in Drug Availability and Infrastructure
In high-income countries, 68% to 94% of the WHO’s top-20 priority cancer drugs are available. In low- and lower-middle income countries, that availability plummets to between 9% and 54%.
The WHO report identifies 23 countries with no radiation facilities at all. In sub-Saharan Africa, diagnosis rates remain lower than in wealthier regions, yet the region experiences disproportionately high death rates from the disease.
Financial Toxicity and Treatment Abandonment
Two-thirds of countries do not include cancer care within their universal health coverage packages. This lack of funding leads to extreme financial hardship, with the report stating that up to 90% of patients in some settings abandon treatment because they cannot afford it.
Abigail Simon-Hart, a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate from Nigeria, described the devastating trade-offs families face, citing instances where parents must choose between paying for cancer treatment and keeping a child in school. Simon-Hart also highlighted the role of social stigma, reporting that some women choose death over life-saving mastectomies to avoid the social fallout of losing a breast.
Preventable Risks and Paths to Elimination
Despite the challenges, the WHO identifies significant opportunities for reduction through prevention. Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, deputy head of the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s surveillance unit, stated that four in 10 new cancer cases are linked to addressable risk factors, including:
- Tobacco use
- Alcohol consumption
- Excess body weight
- Certain infections
The report also highlights a credible path toward the elimination of cervical cancer and a global downward trend in tobacco use. Most nations have now established national cancer action plans to coordinate these efforts.
Comparison of Cancer Care Access by Income Level
| Metric | High-Income Countries | Low/Lower-Middle Income Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Survival Rate (Breast/Childhood) | 85% (5-year) | < 30% (5-year) |
| Priority Drug Availability | 68% – 94% | 9% – 54% |
| Radiation Infrastructure | Data not stated | 23 countries have zero facilities |
WHO experts are calling on global governments to shift their funding models to “value care as highly as cure,” ensuring that investment spans the entire continuum from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment.
Worth a look