Pillar 3
Cancer Treatment, Palliative Care and Survivorship
Cancer management plays a pivotal role in comprehensive cancer control programs, aligning with the principles of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure accessibility, affordability, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of care. Encompassing various modalities such as surgery, systemic therapy,
radiotherapy, and palliative care, effective cancer management requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Core clinical services, including medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, and supportive care, are essential components delivered by well-trained teams. However, the country faces challenges in deploying a specialized oncology workforce and limited infrastructure for cancer care. As of 2023, there are 12 comprehensive cancer treatment centers, both public and private, with coverage for managing all cancers at approximately 28%. The strategic plan for
cancer management prioritizes workforce expansion, infrastructure development, increased access to quality care, and integration of cancer research to inform policy.
The aim is to achieve an 80% treatment completion rate, aligned with the National Health Insurance Fund. The plan also addresses childhood cancer care limitations, targeting a significant improvement in survival rates from 20-30% to 60% by 2030, emphasizing prompt referrals and enhanced quality of life for survivors. The strategy emphasizes building robust primary care systems and leveraging UHC to encourage outpatient and ambulatory care for a more comprehensive and accessible cancer management approach.
The overarching goal of Pillar 3 is to ensure timely initiation of comprehensive treatment, strengthening access to quality sustainable care and improving the quality of life for cancer patients through the following strategic objectives:
- Develop policies and strengthen coordination to guide relevant standards for provision of
quality cancer management. - Improve availability and capacity of a skilled multi-disciplinary team of oncology human
resources for health across all levels of care. - Increase access to timely cancer care services.