<p>On World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the gap in the availability of cancer care in high and low-income countries to be addressed.</p>.<p>Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 20 million people diagnosed and 10 million deaths from the disease in 2021, the WHO said.</p>.<p>These numbers will continue to rise in the decades ahead, <em>Xinhua news agency</em> quoted the global health body as saying.</p>.<p>Though all cancers can be treated and many can be prevented or cured, available care reflects global inequality. Comprehensive treatment is available in more than 90 per cent of high-income countries, but less than 15 per cent of low-income countries, WHO said.</p>.<p>Cancer services are covered by national healthcare services in only 37 per cent of low- and middle-income countries, compared to at least 78 per cent of high-income countries.</p>.<p>WHO highlighted the role of national cancer centres, saying they can be a one-stop shop for prevention, diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment and supportive care, which makes it easier for patients to navigate services with concentrated expertise, and leads to better results.</p>.<p>Radiotherapy is among the most cost-effective, efficient and widely-used treatments for cancer, but worldwide access remains inadequate.</p>.<p>Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have also experienced disruption to cancer screening and treatment, WHO noted.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>On World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the gap in the availability of cancer care in high and low-income countries to be addressed.</p>.<p>Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 20 million people diagnosed and 10 million deaths from the disease in 2021, the WHO said.</p>.<p>These numbers will continue to rise in the decades ahead, <em>Xinhua news agency</em> quoted the global health body as saying.</p>.<p>Though all cancers can be treated and many can be prevented or cured, available care reflects global inequality. Comprehensive treatment is available in more than 90 per cent of high-income countries, but less than 15 per cent of low-income countries, WHO said.</p>.<p>Cancer services are covered by national healthcare services in only 37 per cent of low- and middle-income countries, compared to at least 78 per cent of high-income countries.</p>.<p>WHO highlighted the role of national cancer centres, saying they can be a one-stop shop for prevention, diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment and supportive care, which makes it easier for patients to navigate services with concentrated expertise, and leads to better results.</p>.<p>Radiotherapy is among the most cost-effective, efficient and widely-used treatments for cancer, but worldwide access remains inadequate.</p>.<p>Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have also experienced disruption to cancer screening and treatment, WHO noted.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>