At Global Voices in Renal Oncology (VIRO) 2025, organized by OncoDaily, Dr. Karima Oualla, Professor of Medical Oncology at the Hassan II University Hospital in Morocco, delivered a talk on “The Current State of Renal Oncology in Morocco”.
She emphasized that while international guidelines are uniform, the true challenge lies in their application, shaped by disparities in healthcare infrastructure, access to treatment, and regional priorities.
Dr. Oualla highlighted the epidemiological profile of cancer in Morocco, where approximately 63,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year in a population of 36 million. For men, the most common cancers include lung, prostate, colorectal, and bladder cancer, while for women, breast cancer leads, followed by colorectal, cervical, and thyroid cancers. Importantly, she noted that cervical cancer has moved from second to fourth place in recent years, a shift largely attributed to HPV vaccination programs and awareness efforts.
She described the National Cancer Plan (2020–2029), which builds on the earlier decade-long program (2010–2019), focusing on prevention, early detection, treatment, and supportive care. A major achievement has been the expansion of cancer centers across all 12 regions of Morocco, reducing the historical need for patients to travel to major cities like Casablanca or Rabat for treatment. However, significant barriers remain, including long delays in accessing treatment—often over 40 days—which negatively impacts patient outcomes.
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