Yasar Ahmed, Assistant Professor at the University College Dublin, shared on LinkedIn:
“Gynecologic Oncology Capacity in Sudan Following Armed Conflict: Findings from IGCS 2026
Armed conflict severely destabilizes healthcare systems, but its specific toll on highly specialized, resource-intensive disciplines often goes undocumented. At the IGCS 2026 Annual Global Meeting in Montréal, our group Roni Shanoada present a structured nationwide needs assessment evaluating gynecologic oncology capacity across Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023.
Following the closure of major referral hubs such as the Khartoum Oncology Hospital, patient loads shifted to peripheral centers.
Assessing the operational realities of 14 facilities across 10 states revealed stark system-wide challenges:
- Severe Structural and Workforce Constraints: Multiple facilities have faced permanent closure or partial functionality due to strikes and vandalism. Formal fellowship-trained gynecologic oncologists were present at only 3 surveyed facilities.
- Absence of Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy – essential for definitive management of locally advanced cervical cancer – remains completely unavailable nationwide across all assessed sites. No surveyed facility possessed functioning on-site radiation therapy equipment, driving external referral wait times past 5–8 weeks where transfer is possible.
- Diagnostic and Screening Gaps: Cervical cancer screening is absent in nearly 80% of facilities, and advanced pathology (immunohistochemistry) requires external referral in most centers.
- Essential Supportive Care Deficits: Unreliable availability of oral morphine and basic supportive medications continues to compromise palliative care for advanced presentations.
- Displaced Populations: Displaced patients represent up to 26–50% of patient volumes in receiving peripheral facilities, many of which operate with reduced overall capacity.
These findings highlight that maintaining essential gynecologic cancer care in humanitarian crises cannot rely solely on improvised local solutions. Sustained international partnerships, targeted workforce training, and coordinated supply chains for radiotherapy and essential analgesics are urgently needed to prevent avoidable mortality.”
Title: Gynecologic Oncology Capacity in Sudan Following Armed Conflict: A Structured needs assessment
Authors: Roni Shanoada, Yasar Ahmed
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