Cancer drug policy and access in LMICs

Share :
Published: 26 Nov 2021
Views: 803
Rating:
Save
Dr Bishal Gyawali - Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

Dr Bishal Gyawali shares some recent observations on current matters in global oncology.

He starts by talking about challenges to cancer policy in low-middle income countries (LMICs), such as lack of access to meaningful cancer drugs. He also draws attention to overtreatment in LMICs, an issue that is often not associated in these populations, and the cost of using low-value therapies.

Dr Gyawali closes by commenting on the amount of cancer drug withdrawals by the FDA in 2021, explaining that in some cases savings can be made from regulatory delay especially in LMICs. He points out how this highlights the importance of confirmation of benefit before investing in newly approved treatments.