Cancer patients and unions demand improved access to radiotherapy and diagnostic equipment

Cancer patients and labor unions in Paraguay and Spain are calling for urgent improvements in oncology services, specifically regarding diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy equipment.

In Paraguay, representatives from Apacfa have reported that the diagnostic tomograph at the INCAN institute is currently non-operational, leaving only one machine available for radiotherapy markings. Patients are also facing significant barriers to accessing PET scans, which are essential for diagnosis and monitoring. Because the public sector lacks this equipment, patients must turn to private centers where costs range between USD 1,200 and USD 1,500. The Ministry of Health has responded by stating that equipment needs are monitored based on patient statistics, though the lack of immediate replacements for broken machinery remains a critical issue.

In Spain, the UGT union has denounced the underutilization of linear accelerators at the Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca in Murcia. The union claims that despite millions in investments, the hospital is not operating at full capacity, forcing the referral of hundreds of oncology patients to private contracted centers. UGT attributes this inefficiency to staffing shortages and is calling on regional health authorities to increase personnel to ensure existing technology is fully utilized.