IAEA Steps Up Global Collaboration To Expand Cancer Care

By Voon Miaw Ping

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- As the global cancer burden continues to rise, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through its flagship Rays of Hope initiative is stepping up global collaboration to expand access to radiation medicine for cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

IAEA Director for Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy under Department of Technical Cooperation, Lisa Stevens, said the agency was seeking stronger partnerships and support to bridge gaps in global cancer care, particularly in low- and medium-income countries.

“So as we look to the future, we want to continue to build partnership with our traditional and new partners for sustainable access to cancer care,” she said during an online briefing on Rays of Hope recently.

She said the number of entities engaged with the initiative had grown since it was established in 2022.

The agency is seeking new ways to scale up support to member states and mobilise resources, while strengthening knowledge-sharing, research, and innovation.

The effort comes as the global cancer burden is projected to increase significantly, with the Global Cancer Observatory estimating new cancer cases to rise from 20.6 million in 2024 to 34.4 million by 2050. Cancer deaths are expected to increase from 9.76 million to 17.5 million during the same period.

IAEA Director for Division of Human Health, May Abdel-Wahab, said the projected increase meant that more resources would be needed, particularly to address major disparities in access to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“That’s quite a significant increase and it means that more resources will be needed,” she said.

She said radiation medicine and diagnostic imaging, supported by nuclear science and technology, play an important role in cancer care, including through computed tomography (CT), X-ray, mammography, and positron emission tomography (PET).

“The global diagnostic gap that is available right now is quite serious for us. We see there is a big disparity,” she said.

Abdel-Wahab said the disparity was particularly stark in access to advanced diagnostic equipment. She said one PET scanner in a low-income country potentially serves up to 250 million people, while the number is 250,000 people in a high-income country.

According to the 2021 Lancet Oncology Commission, nearly 47 per cent of the world’s population has little or no access to basic diagnostic services, including diagnostic imaging.

The commission estimated that 9.6 million cancer deaths could potentially be avoided over 10 years by scaling up diagnostic imaging, highlighting the potential impact of improving access to diagnosis.

Rays of Hope was launched in February 2022 with an aim to improve cancer outcomes by providing comprehensive access to radiation medicine by leveraging the IAEA’s more than 60 years of experience and expertise.

To date, it has supported more than 90 countries through technical assistance, equipment, training, and capacity building, as well as research and international collaborations.

The initiative has enabled the procurement of more than 150 major pieces of equipment, including linear accelerators, mammography units, PET/CT scanners, and brachytherapy systems. Additionally, more than 170 specialised medical professionals have received long-term training.

The IAEA has also established 20 Anchor Centres globally to serve as regional hubs for specialised training, knowledge-sharing, and capacity building in cancer care.

Stevens called for the strengthening of cancer workforce. She said by 2050, the global workforce needs to increase by more than 60 per cent from 2022 levels. The shortage is projected to reach about 100 million.

A separate analysis estimated that scaling up the global cancer workforce could potentially avert 170 million cancer deaths between 2030 and 2050, while generating net economic benefits of US$120 trillion.

She said the IAEA would focus on ensuring that investment in cancer care translates into lasting national capacity through workforce development, technology transfer, and integration with the Anchor Centre Network for regional support.

“The hope is that the impact will continue long beyond the opening of cancer centres through workforce development, technology transfer, and integration with the Anchor Centre Network for regional support,” she added.

-- BERNAMA