Erman Akkus: 8 barriers that stand in the way of cancer care
Erman Akkus, Medical Oncology Fellow at Ankara University, shared on X/Twitter:
”Who you are and where you live should not determine if you live! February 4 is World Cancer Day! Union for International CancerControl.
Equity gap: 8 barriers that stand in the way of cancer care:
- Gender norms and discrimination
- Barriers for minority populations
- Poverty and socioeconomic status
- The rural-urban divide
- Age
- Refugee status and forced displacement
- Homophobia, transphobia and related discrimination
- Barriers for care for people with disabilities
Key actions that governments can take:
1) Increase funding for cancer research
2) Develop a population-based cancer registry
3) Implement an effective national cancer strategy
4) Take measurable action towards universal health coverage
5) Improve education around cancer
6) Strictly regulate the production, sales and marketing of tobacco, alcohol and other carcinogenic products
7) Implement routine screening programmes for common cancers
8) Foster patient-centred care
9) Address the systemic social determinants of health.”
Source: Erman Akkus/X