Cancer A Looming Public Health Crisis in Africa: A Call to Accelerate Equitable Access to Medicines​

In November 2023, leading experts gathered in at the AORTIC International Conference on Cancer in Africa in Dakar, Senegal, for a pivotal symposium focused on accelerating the availability of cancer medicines in Africa. The event highlighted the power of collaboration and shared strategies to drive progress in cancer treatment and care on the continent.

Discussions centered on the critical role of well-designed, rigorously conducted clinical trials, as well as the need for harmonized regulatory processes and robust data sharing. Beyond the development of medicines, the symposium underscored the importance of continuous education, training, and the integration of emerging knowledge into clinical practice—empowering healthcare providers to deliver more effective, evidence-based cancer care.

Faculty
Prof. Rose Anorlu, MBChB, FMCOG, FRCOG, FWACS, MPH, Immediate Past President, AORTIC
Satish Gopal, MD, MPH, Director, Center for Global Health, US National Cancer Institute
Sujha Subramanian, PhD, President, Implenomics
Martin J. Murphy, DMedSc, PhD, FASCO, Chairman, Society for Translational Oncology/HARMONY

Key Takeaways

  • Nine out of the 10 countries with the highest poverty rates globally are in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Cancer Clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Africa are unjustifiably few and those conducted in high-income countries (HICs) may not generalize well to Africa.
  • Cancer clinical trials in Africa must be appropriately contextualized if they are to save lives and inform cancer world wide.
  • Harmonizing clinical trials in Africa offers the opportunity to assess strategies that can accelerate access to cancer care services alongside clinical studies.
  • The increase in the incidence of cancer and mortality from it in the world by 2040 will be highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Cancer treatment in Africa is lacking due to very few clinical trials in the region.
  • An integrated approach to develop both the clinical evidence and implementation strategies related to acceptability, feasibility and affordability is essential to increase reach of cancer care and advance equity.
  • There is a need for affordable and effective cancer treatments that includes the enrollment of Africans living in Africa in appropriate clinical trials.
  • Engaging policy makers, implementers and providers early in the planning process will ensure timely implementation of effective cancer interventions.