Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, shared on LinkedIn:
“If your policy makers committed to funding research and then didn’t follow through, your patients probably paid the price.
At least that’s what the data shows.
Last week, I mentioned that Africa contributes only 8% of global cancer research despite carrying a significant and growing share of the global disease burden.
And the countries making the greatest progress share one thing: they fund their own research.
They do not wait for the world to study their patients for them.
I also mentioned that the African Union (AU) member states, 14 years ago, committed to dedicating 1% of GDP to research and development.
Most have not followed through. And the gap between that promise and that reality shows up every day: in late diagnoses, in abandoned treatment, in patients who never made it into a clinical trial because there wasn’t one near them.
But there is hope.
Nigeria just launched three immunotherapy clinical studies for the first time.
Drugs like Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, previously unavailable in country, will now be provided free to eligible patients through clinical trials.
The Catastrophic Health Fund is subsidising cancer prevention, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The National Cancer Health Fund is supporting indigent patients who would otherwise fall through gaps in the system.
That is what happens when political will meets partnership.
And it is not only Nigeria. Across the continent, pooled procurement is beginning to explore bringing the drug costs down.
Among others, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)-AORTIC-Africa Research Scholars Programme is training the next generation of African cancer investigators.
The AORTIC- BioUsawa grants are funding seed ideas for innovation.
Participation in Best of ASCO Africa has grown significantly since its inaugural in-person edition in Addis. We have more countries, more partners, more momentum.
The direction is right, but the pace needs to match the urgency.
Because stronger domestic investment will generate the evidence needed to improve diagnosis, treatment completion, patient experience, and health systems.
This is a proven pattern across every country that has moved the needle on cancer outcomes.
Our patients are not waiting for the world to prioritise them.
As we begin another new month, a reminder that our patients are not waiting for the world to prioritise them.
Neither should our policymakers.”
Other articles featuring Miriam Mutebi on OncoDaily.
