Cancer care access in low-income African nations

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has highlighted the growing public health threat of cancer in resource-limited settings, noting that women in low- and middle-income countries account for approximately 80% of global deaths from breast and cervical cancers. MSF reported that while previous humanitarian crises interrupted treatments for non-communicable diseases, current teams are working with local networks to provide a full spectrum of care, including screening, treatment, and palliative care in countries such as Mali and Malawi.

In Madagascar and Senegal, significant barriers to care persist despite efforts toward early detection and free services. In Madagascar, patients face difficulties transitioning from diagnosis to treatment due to high medication costs, long hospital wait times, and social stigma. In Senegal, while chemotherapy is provided free of charge, the diagnostic phase remains a major financial burden. Patients must pay for consultations, biopsies, imaging, and pathology exams, with cumulative costs often exceeding the financial capacity of modest households and delaying essential treatment.