ecancermedicalscience

Research

Neuro-oncology in the Philippines: a scoping review on the state of medical practice, deterrents to care and therapeutic gaps

20 May 2021
Mark Willy L Mondia, Adrian I Espiritu, Julette Marie F Batara, Roland Dominic G Jamora

Background: Neoplasms of the brain and spine are relatively uncommon compared to breast, lung and gastrointestinal tumours, which occur at higher rates in the Asian population. Updated guidelines in diagnosis and treatment of neuro-oncologic diseases recommend advanced molecular-based precision-medicine; thus the need for increasingly individualised regimens. It is, therefore, necessary to determine whether there are areas of improvement in the provision of care to these patients, especially in low- to middle-income economies like the Philippines.

Methods: In this study, we identified gaps in the delivery of medical care to Filipino patients with tumours of the central nervous system. We performed a scoping review on the available literature on clinical experience with treatment of neuro-oncologic cases from the Philippines and performed qualitative analysis viewed through the lens of the existing healthcare system.

Results: The medical practice of neuro-oncology in the Philippines lacks robust local data on epidemiology and treatment outcomes. There are existing legislative frameworks to support adequate healthcare delivery and financing to brain tumour patients. However, inequities in the geographic distribution of infrastructure, manpower and medications are roadblocks for accessibility to neuro-oncologic services like specialised molecular markers, neurosurgical procedures, sustained chemotherapy and radiation therapy centres.

Conclusion: There are significant treatment gaps in the care of neuro-oncologic patients in the Philippines that need to be addressed. Early detection and initiation of prognosis-changing therapeutics through reduction of out-of-pocket expenses, access to readily available diagnostic tools and sustainability of management regimens are the main areas that necessitate strengthened partnership between the public and private sectors of Philippine society.

Related Articles

Tooba Ali, Laraib Khan, Bilal Mazhar Qureshi, Asim Hafiz, Maria Tariq, Khurram Minhas, Nasir Ali, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi
Solomon Kibudde, Awusi Kavuma, Bonny Abal, Moses Fredrick Katumba, Cissy Bangidde Namutale, Daniel Kanyike, Israel Luutu
Swasthik Upadhya, Sameer Rastogi, Adarsh Barwad, Shamim Ahmed Shamim, Dikhra Khan, Sudheer Arava, Vineeta Ojha, Akshit Kumar Ganesan Karthikeyan, Akshya Kumar Bisoi
Aditya Dhanawat, Debdeep Samaddar, Bhagyashri Jadhav, Atul Tiwari, Kunal Jobanputra, Arnav Tongaonkar, Minit Jalan Shah, Nandini Menon, Priyamvada Maitre, Mahendra Pal, Amandeep Arora, Aparna Ringe, Archi Agrawal, Santosh Menon, Gagan Prakash, Vedang Murthy, Vanita Noronha, Kumar Prabhash, Amit Joshi
Beatrice P Mushi, Summaiya Haddadi, Alita Mrema, Jerry Ndumbalo, Nanzoke Mvungi, Msiba Selekwa, Julius Mwaiselage, Larry Akoko, Yona Ringo, Rohan Luhar, Rebecca DeBoer, Katherine Van Loon, Elia Mmbaga, Geoffrey C Buckle
Ally H Mwanga, Erick M Mbuguje, Jeanine Justiniano, Balowa Musa, Nashivai Kivuyo, Daniel W Kitua, Eva Uiso, Andrew Swallow, Edith Kimambo, Azza Naif, Deogratius B Mwanakulya, Swaleh Pazi, Advera Ngaiza, Seif Wibonela, Behnam Shaygi, Cameron E Gaskill