About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Refugees are Struggling to Access Cancer Treatment: Warn UN Officials

by Himabindu Venkatakrishnan on May 26, 2014 at 8:21 PM
Font : A-A+

 Refugees are Struggling to Access Cancer Treatment: Warn UN Officials

A high demand for costly cancer treatment among refugees from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Syria with host countries are struggling to meet expenses of cancer treatment reveals a study published in The Lancet Oncology journal. The findings have prompted calls from lead author Dr Paul Spiegel, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Chief Medical Expert, for innovative financing schemes to improve access to affordable high-quality cancer care for refugees.

In the first study of its kind, Spiegel and colleagues examined data from funding applications made to the UNHCR Exceptional Care Committee (ECC) from refugees in Jordan and Syria whose cancer treatment costs were likely to exceed US$2000 a year.

Advertisement

The findings show that cancer is an important public health problem in refugee settings and highlight the huge challenges and immense costs that national health systems and humanitarian organisations face when overwhelmed by massive influxes of refugees.

For example, in Jordan the ECC assessed 1989 applications for treatment between 2010 and 2012, of which roughly a quarter (511) were for cancer—breast cancer and colorectal cancer being the most common. Around half (48%) of these cases were approved and funded. The main reasons for denied funding were a poor prognosis (43% of cases in 2011 and 31% in 2012) or that the treatment was too costly (25% in 2011). The average amount requested from the ECC for cancer treatment was US$11 540 in 2011 and US$5151 in 2012; however, the amounts approved were substantially lower—US$4626 in 2011 and US$3501 in 2012.
Advertisement

"The countries in the Middle East have welcomed millions of refugees, first from Iraq and then Syria. This massive influx has strained health systems at all levels. Despite help from international organisations and donors to expand health facilities and pay for additional personnel and drugs, it has been insufficient. The burden has fallen disproportionately on the host countries to absorb the costs. For example, the Jordanian Ministry of Health footed an estimated $53 million bill for medical care for refugees in the first four months of 2013", says Dr Spiegel.*

The authors call for improved cancer prevention and treatment in refugee settings through the use of innovative financing schemes, better primary care including screening for common cancers (eg, colonoscopies and mammograms), and the development of electronic web-based cancer registries to prevent interruption of treatment.

According to Dr Spiegel, "Until now, the response to humanitarian crises have been primarily based on experiences from refugee camps in sub-Saharan Africa where infectious diseases and malnutrition have been the priority. In the 21st century, refugee situations are substantially longer and increasingly occur in middle-income countries where the levels of chronic diseases, including cancer, are higher. Cancer diagnosis and care in humanitarian emergencies typifies a growing trend towards more costly chronic disease care, something that seems to have been overlooked, but is of increasing importance because the number of refugees is growing."*

Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Cancer News

Is Adding Ribociclib to Hormone Therapy Improves Breast Cancer Outcomes
In patients with breast cancer combination therapy had increased invasive disease-free survival compared to those who were treated with the hormone therapy alone.
Antibody Treatment Proves Effective for Bile Duct Cancers
An antibody treatment helped shrink tumors in some patients with bile duct cancers.
Link Between Gut Microbiome and Precancerous Colon Polyps Identified
Comprehending the association between the gut microbiome and polyp growth sheds insights into potential screenings and treatments.
 Analyzing Paediatric Brain Tumours Provide Data for Cancer Research
The first large-scale, collaborative, open analysis of genomic data provides a cloud-based resource for researchers looking for more comprehensive data on pediatric brain tumors.
Cancer Drugs to be Tested in Orbit During American Private Astronaut Mission
The mission of Axiom Space incorporated numerous experiments focusing on human stem cell aging, inflammation, and cancer within the laboratory situated in the low Earth orbit.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Refugees are Struggling to Access Cancer Treatment: Warn UN Officials Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests