Introduction: The limited information available on the cancer patient pathway in Argentina and barriers to access during diagnosis and treatment created a need to produce updated data that would support possible interventions.
Objectives: To survey and analyse access to cancer diagnosis and treatment from the patient's perspective in Argentina (2024).
Method: A quantitative methodology was used, employing a survey method. Sampling was non-probabilistic. It was decided to work in four jurisdictions and with adults with any type of cancer. Quotas were established by sex, jurisdiction and type of cancer.
Results: Fifty percent of respondents reported difficulties in accessing the first consultation. These limitations were more frequent among patients with colon cancer (63%), users of the public subsector (67%) and residents of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (56%). Fifty percent of the sample experienced difficulties in accessing diagnosis, a percentage that would increase among people with lung cancer (57%), those with health insurance coverage (57%) and those residing in Misiones (62%) and Tierra del Fuego (68%). At this stage, the main obstacles were related to a lack of appointments, bureaucratic hurdles and distances to health centers. The latter two barriers also stood out in access to treatment, where 63% of respondents encountered difficulties. Added to these were delays in the delivery of medications. Residents of Buenos Aires and Tierra del Fuego reported greater obstacles at this stage (73% and 67%, respectively). Regarding access to medication, 48% of respondents reported having encountered difficulties. This percentage also varied according to gender, type of cancer, jurisdiction and type of coverage. Finally, the average time between the first consultation and the start of treatment was 130 days for the total sample (SD = 122).
Discussion: Barriers to accessing cancer diagnosis and treatment are a concern, as they can affect the progression of the disease or lead to treatment abandonment. Inequalities in access are observed according to jurisdiction and type of coverage, which would reflect territorial disparities and disparities related to the ability to pay in Argentina.
