Pan-Asian study flags gaps in cancer control plans

A new study published in The Lancet Global Health has revealed significant disparities in how Asian countries plan and implement cancer control measures, even as the continent shoulders more than half of global cancer deaths.

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution on cancer prevention and control that stressed the need for countries to create and put into action National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs). The research, conducted by the Asian National Cancer Centres Alliance (ANCCA), examined national cancer control plans (NCCPs) across 21 countries, including India, China, Japan, Thailand and others.

While over 90 per cent of the countries had frameworks covering prevention, early detection and treatment, many lacked robust legal backing, financial allocations or systems to track progress.

Notably, only 48 per cent of plans included end of life care, and less than half addressed environmental risk factors such as air pollution — despite the region’s escalating pollution linked health burden. More than three quarters had some budgetary provision, but in several cases, implementation was patchy due to weak governance.

The authors highlight that economic status alone does not determine the maturity of cancer control.

“A country’s income level does not consistently lead to early or comprehensive cancer control planning through NCCPs...factors beyond economic status play important roles in shaping national cancer strategies,” the study said.

Existing research suggests that by 2050, 1.87 million new cases and 1.01 million deaths are expected to occur in Asia due to colorectal cancer alone.

“Although Asia accounts for only 49.2 per cent of all new cancer diagnoses, it accounts for 56.1 per cent of global cancer deaths,” the Lancet study notes.