Cancer is a common concern for countries in the Asia-Pacific region, yet treatment of the disease varies markedly among its various healthcare systems. A new study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) - Controlling cancer: The state of national cancer control plans in Asia, commissioned by Mundipharma - looks at the state of cancer control in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Through in-depth desk research and interviews with healthcare officials, the report qualitatively assesses how these countries are dealing with cancer, focusing on similarities and differences in the implementation of National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs).
The study finds that resources are a key success factor, with the three countries most successful in fighting the disease - Australia, South Korea and Taiwan - also the wealthiest. Within the developed markets studied, quality of governance also plays a crucial role in cancer control: the study highlights that the existence of a NCCP with clear national objectives, quality assurance mechanisms and integrated case management account for close to a quarter of the difference in cancer outcomes.
Wealthy countries might be better at treating cancer but the disease is much more prevalent there: it accounts for between 25% and 30% of deaths in Australia, South Korea and Taiwan compared to 7% in India and 13% in Indonesia.
Worryingly, death rates due to cancer are growing in developing markets too: cancer death rates in China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam rose by over 30% between 2000 and 2012. Different factors have contributed to this increase, including population ageing, poor lifestyle choices (such as high rates of smoking and obesity), air and water pollution, and the prevalence of infectious diseases like hepatitis and human papillomaviruses (which lead to liver and cervical cancer respectively).
The study also outlines the diverse challenges in controlling cancer, identifying several common weaknesses. These include the need for better registry and mortality data to improve understanding of the challenge that cancer represents, as well as a more holistic approach to cancer care which provides comprehensive services across the entire range of cancer control.
Charles Goddard, the editor of the report, said:
"With half the global incidence of cancer, Asia is facing a challenge that will put enormous stress on its healthcare systems. This stress will be felt not only in developed countries in the region but increasingly in the less developed nations. Governments need to respond to the coming cancer challenge by increasing investment, and more importantly, by developing national cancer control plans that set out the strategic public health response to the disease."