Cancer Care Inequalities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Oncology, Palliative Care, and Public Health Perspectives
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Cancer care inequalities remain a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where increasing cancer incidence and mortality intersect with limited healthcare resources, delayed diagnosis, workforce shortages, restricted access to treatment, and insufficient palliative care services. Despite advances in oncology, substantial disparities persist in cancer prevention, screening, diagnostics, treatment availability, and survivorship outcomes between high-income and resource-limited settings. Public health systems in LMICs often face challenges related to financing, infrastructure, geographic inequities, and shortages of trained oncology and palliative care professionals. Furthermore, sociocultural, gender-related, and economic barriers contribute to delayed care-seeking and poor outcomes. This narrative review examines major inequalities in global cancer care, with a particular focus on oncology and palliative care delivery in LMICs. The review discusses disparities in cancer epidemiology, access to diagnostics and treatment, workforce capacity, financial toxicity, palliative care integration, and health policy challenges. Potential strategies for reducing inequalities, including multidisciplinary care models, universal health coverage, early palliative care integration, workforce development, and international collaboration, are also explored. Addressing cancer care inequalities requires coordinated public health, clinical, and policy interventions aimed at improving equitable access to comprehensive cancer care worldwide.
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