ecancermedicalscience

Clinical Study

Mobilising stakeholders to improve access to state-of-the-art radiotherapy in low- and middle-income countries

10 May 2021
Ndimofor Chofor, Pierre Bopda, Rebecca Bücker, Azeh Ivo, Ernest Okonkwo, Kra Joel, Zanzem Tung, Taofeeq Ige, Holger Wirtz, Wilfred Ngwa

In an ongoing effort to improve access to state-of-the-art radiotherapy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a joint symposium was organised by the non-governmental, non-profit organisation Medical physicists in diaspora for Africa e.V. (MephidA e.V.) in collaboration with the Germany-based Cameroon-German medical doctor’s association (Camfomedics e.V.) and the Harvard-based Global Health Catalyst summit. The goal of the symposium was to discuss the technical and structural challenges faced in African LMIC settings, re-evaluate strategies to overcome the shortfall of radiotherapy services and ameliorate the situation. The meeting brought together industry partners, including radiotherapy machine vendors and dosimetry solution providers, alongside public health, oncology and medical physics experts. This paper summarises the deliberations and recommendations based on the ongoing efforts including the use of information and communication technologies towards the provision of expert knowledge and telemedicine, the use of solar energy to avoid power outages and the use of high-end technology for enhanced quality assurance. We also present the experiences on the first linac installation at the Rwanda Military Hospital, the challenges faced in this LMIC as well as the patient’s demography, reflecting the reality in most sub-Saharan LMICs.

Related Articles

Clara Pierini, Clara Mariano y Jelicich, Fabiola Bascuñán Acuña, María De San Martín, Aldana Casati, Cecilia Casullo, Marta Díaz Madero, Delfina Grennon Viel, Estefania Marzik, Gabriela Rodriguez, Victoria Viel Temperley
Ochomo Edwin Onyango, Philiph Tonui, Peter Itsura, Elkanah Omenge Orang'o, Kapten Muthoka, Sayo Loice, Benard Ochieng Samba, Barry Rosen, Patrick Loehrer, Susan Cu-Uvin
Annesha Chakraborti, Badira Cheriyalinkal Parambil, Venkata Rama Mohan Gollamudi, Maya Prasad, Siddhartha Laskar, Nehal Khanna, Jifmi Jose Manjali, Sajid Qureshi, Mukta Ramadwar, Poonam Panjwani, Akshay Baheti, Vasundhara Patil, Sneha Shah, Girish Chinnaswamy
Md Foorquan Hashmi, Fiza Khan, Elen Baloyan, Liana Safaryan, Davit Zohrabyan, Gevorg Tamamyan, Samvel Bardakhchyan
Marco Aurélio Bertúlio das Neves, Noemi Dreyer Galvão, Fernanda Cristina da Silva de Lima, Júlio Fernando Pinto Oliveria, Sancho Pedro Xavier, Ageo Mário Cândido da Silva