Investing in global cancer care workforce could save millions of lives and trillions of dollars
A comprehensive scaleup of the global cancer workforce—ensuring adequate numbers of cancer care professionals, ranging from community health workers to specialized physicians—would avert nearly 200 million cancer deaths between 2030 and 2050, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Zachary Ward.
The study was published in The Lancet Oncology April 27. Ward, assistant professor of health decision science in the Department of Health Policy and Management and core faculty in the Center for Health Decision Science, discussed the findings on a May 31 episode of “In Conversation With,” The Lancet Oncology’s podcast.
Shortages of trained personnel to deliver cancer care are a major driver of cancer deaths globally, particularly in LMICs. The researchers sought to quantify how much shoring up the cancer workforce would reduce mortality, and which types of personnel would be most strategic to invest in. To do so, they developed the Global Cancer Workforce microsimulation model, through which they generated mortality estimates from 17 common types of cancer in 200 countries between 2030 and 2050 using demographic, epidemiological, and health system information. The researchers used the model to project how much cancer mortality would decrease if there were sufficient numbers of 18 types of cancer care professionals, including primary care physicians, pathologists, oncologists, nurses, community health workers, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, and laboratory and diagnostic technicians.
The model estimated that if all 18 types of cancer care personnel reached sufficient levels, cancer mortality would drop by more than 50% in 55 countries, amounting to 170 million deaths averted, mostly in Africa, Central America, and South Asia. Among single personnel types, investing in surgeons was projected to produce the largest reduction in mortality. And among workforce types, investing in diagnostic and imaging professionals was projected to have the largest impact.
The model also estimated that around the world, for every $1 invested in addressing cancer workforce shortages, economies would see $4 in return, ultimately yielding up to $120 trillion between 2030 and 2050.
In addition to sharing the projected impacts of investing in the cancer workforce, the researchers also proposed ideas for doing so. They recommended establishing workforce and cancer registries; creating cross-sector and international partnerships to improve access to resources such as education and training programs; and using digital health and artificial intelligence solutions to improve workforce productivity.
On the podcast, Ward said that these investments could save lives and reduce disparities in cancer mortality around the world. “I think success in 2050 would look like that every person who develops cancer has access to timely diagnosis and quality cancer care, no matter where they live in the world,” he said.
Listen to the podcast:
Hedvig Hricak and Zachary Ward on Cancer workforce—a global crisis: a Lancet Oncology Commission
Read an article about the study in The Guardian:
World faces cancer workforce crisis with 100m staff shortfall, report warns
Learn more:
Globally, 1 in 3 cancer cases may never be diagnosed (Harvard Chan School news)
