Tackling Barriers to Cancer Care in Africa: Insights from Dr. Kofi Adesi Kyei
Through a series of interviews, All.Can aims to capture the perspectives of cancer patients, carers, and clinicians, transforming their insights into impactful stories reflecting how cancer care (in)efficiencies affect their journey. This work is designed to make the concept of cancer care efficiency more accessible and relatable, ensuring that it’s not just an abstract term but a real, actionable goal for healthcare systems worldwide.
As part of All.Can’s ongoing efforts to bring together international stakeholders and generate evidence to make cancer care efficiency a policy priority; All.Can is proud to launch a compelling video featuring Dr. Kofi Adesi Kyei, Head of the Radiotherapy and Radiation Therapy Department at the University of Ghana.
In this eye-opening account, Dr. Kyei highlights the critical challenges facing cancer care in Africa, drawing attention to systemic inefficiencies and the urgent need for change. He sheds light on the stark realities faced by patients in Ghana and its neighbouring countries. With only three oncology centres serving a population of over 35 million, the strain on infrastructure is immense. In Accra, two centres operate just four machines, each capable of treating only 40–50 patients daily. This limited capacity leaves countless patients without timely treatment, often resulting in disease progression by the time care becomes available.
The video also explores the financial and geographical barriers that exacerbate these challenges. Patients from rural regions frequently face arduous 12-hour journeys to access oncology centres, often without viable roads or flight options. Many lack health insurance, forcing them to rely on out-of-pocket payments, delaying treatment further as they search for financial support.
The insights shared by Dr. Kyei resonate with the findings in the All.Can Action Guide for Efficient Cancer Care, which underscores the need to prioritise health outcomes over mere cost reduction. Efficiency in cancer care involves optimising the use of available resources—human, financial, infrastructural, and technological—while focusing on what matters most to patients and society. This shift from processes and volume to meaningful health outcomes is essential for creating healthcare systems that truly succeed.
Dr. Kyei’s observations echo the Action Guide’s call for urgent investment in infrastructure, equitable healthcare policies, and expanded insurance coverage. By increasing the number of treatment centres, equipping them with advanced technology, and addressing financial barriers, countries can make significant strides in reducing inefficiencies and improving cancer care access.
This video serves as both a powerful resource and a call to action for policymakers, healthcare providers, and advocates striving to build equitable and efficient cancer care systems. Watch it today to join the conversation and drive meaningful change.