Ahead of World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has released its latest estimates on the global burden of cancer. The WHO also published survey results from 115 countries, showing that most countries are not adequately funding priority cancer and palliative care services as part of universal health coverage (UHC).
One in six fatalities (16.8%) worldwide and one in four deaths (22.8%) from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are attributable to cancer, making it a significant social, public health, and economic concern in the twenty-first century. In 177 out of 183 nations, the disease ranks among the top three causes of mortality for those aged 30-69, and it is responsible for three out of ten premature deaths worldwide from NCDs (30.3%).
disease is linked to considerable social and economic expenses that differ according to the type of disease, location, and gender, in addition to being a major obstacle to extending life expectancy. A recent study brought to light the significant effects of women’s disproportionate cancer mortality: an estimated one million children lost their mothers to cancer in 2020, with breast or cervical cancer accounting for nearly half of these maternal deaths.
Regardless of their situation, we always work to make sure the correct medications are given to the right people at the right time. In 2022, our portfolio of 24 cancer drugs and biosimilars helped more than 889,000 people with more than 30 different cancer types. This includes important therapy choices for melanoma and some forms of lung, colorectal, blood, genitourinary, and breast malignancies. And we have only just begun.
The effect of new radiation technologies on cancer treatment expenses is a less developed topic of discussion. The evaluation of relative effectiveness is still restricted because of methodological issues with radiation trials. Pharmaceutical companies, however, contend that a more thorough assessment of newly released technologies in the EU is necessary. Due to a number of indications, imaging techniques likewise require similarly stringent financial limitations.
Around the world, efforts are being made to reduce the expense of cancer treatment. Given their progressively constrained resources, it is evident that every nation is working to ensure fair access to therapeutic choices as effectively as feasible. Enhancing cooperative efforts to evaluate relative efficacy should be the main goal of future research. Regretfully, this problem is not just about affordability; it is also cultural and political.
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