TY - JOUR
T1 - A collaborative approach to meeting oncology challenges in island communities in the Asia-Pacific region
AU - Ward, Iain Gordon
AU - Mel, Alfred
AU - Soma, Andrew
AU - Atalifo-Veu, Ane
AU - Karapetis, Christos S.
AU - Yip, Desmond
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Treatment of cancer in small island communities is frequently challenged by the isolation and scattered nature of target populations, limited economic resources and overburdened healthcare systems. Strategies that have been successful in improving access to nonsurgical treatment in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and West Timor include balancing centralised location of scarce resources (particularly health professionals) with minimisation of patient travel, in-country training by teams of oncology professionals from high-income countries (HICs), sending health professionals to train in HICs, sharing and adaptation of treatment protocols, and telehealth initiatives. A common feature of successful initiatives is a collaborative approach. Cancer service design and implementation needs to be led by local health professionals with the collaboration of local health authorities and government. There is greater scope for collaboration between low- and middle-income countries and for the use of virtual meetings, distance learning, and remote technical support.
AB - Treatment of cancer in small island communities is frequently challenged by the isolation and scattered nature of target populations, limited economic resources and overburdened healthcare systems. Strategies that have been successful in improving access to nonsurgical treatment in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and West Timor include balancing centralised location of scarce resources (particularly health professionals) with minimisation of patient travel, in-country training by teams of oncology professionals from high-income countries (HICs), sending health professionals to train in HICs, sharing and adaptation of treatment protocols, and telehealth initiatives. A common feature of successful initiatives is a collaborative approach. Cancer service design and implementation needs to be led by local health professionals with the collaboration of local health authorities and government. There is greater scope for collaboration between low- and middle-income countries and for the use of virtual meetings, distance learning, and remote technical support.
KW - chemotherapy
KW - delivery of health care
KW - developing countries
KW - melanesia
KW - radiotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102110068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1754-9485.13160
DO - 10.1111/1754-9485.13160
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102110068
SN - 1754-9477
VL - 65
SP - 418
EP - 423
JO - Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology
JF - Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology
IS - 4
ER -