Modern Radiotherapy Technology: Obstacles and Opportunities to Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Priyamvada Maitre, Rahul Krishnatry, Supriya Chopra, Soehartati Gondhowiardjo, Beda Likonda, Qazi Mushtaq Hussain, Eduardo Zubizarreta, Jai Prakash Agarwal
Abstract
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have a large burden of cancer with differential population needs and outcomes compared to high-income countries. Access to radiotherapy, especially modern technology, is a major challenge. Modern radiotherapy has been demonstrated with better utility in overall cancer outcomes. We deliberate various challenges and opportunities unique to LMICs' set up for access to modern radiotherapy technology in the light of discussions and deliberations made during the recently concluded annual meeting of Tata Memorial Centre, India. We take examples available from various LMICs in this direction in our manuscript.