Measuring Global Inequity in Radiation Therapy: Resource Deficits in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Without Radiation Therapy Facilities.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Although radiation therapy (RT) is an effective and inexpensive pillar of multidisciplinary cancer care, access to RT facilities remains highly inequitable globally. Numerous studies have documented this resource gap, yet many countries continue facing their raging cancer epidemics ill-equipped. In this study, we present an estimation of resource deficits in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) without any RT facilities at all.

Methods and materials

This study builds on publicly available data on country classification, population, cancer incidence, and RT requirements provided by the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Leveraging these data, we developed a capacity-planning model to estimate the current de

SUBMITTER: Christ SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10050474 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature