Mexico’s health system would benefit from a comprehensive cancer control plan to address countrywide needs, and a steering committee composed of key cancer control stakeholders to develop and support its implementation.
This was a key finding from an IAEA imPACT Review in September, which brought together a team of international experts from the IAEA, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Union for International Cancer Control.
The Review assessed Mexico’s capacities and needs in cancer care and highlighted where services can be strengthened. The experts visited public and private facilities within the main institutions in the national health system, including the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers, and the Ministry of Health as well as academics and representatives of civil society.
“The recommendations will help us prioritize our activities and ultimately improve access to cancer care,” said Abelardo Meneses Garcia, Director General of the National Cancer Institute (INCan). “Although our health system is somewhat fragmented, improvements are being made in the delivery of health care, such as in the collection of cancer information through a population-based registry which was established a year ago.”
According to IARC, an estimated 190 000 Mexicans will develop cancer in 2018 with over 83 000 dying from the disease. These figures are expected to increase by 44 and 51 percent, respectively, by 2030. Mexico’s most common causes of cancer deaths are prostate and lung in men and breast and cervical cancer in women.
Alejandro Mohar Betancourt, INCan’s Deputy Director, said: “The Mission’s recommendations will ensure a technical continuity for our current strategic cancer control planning and will support future decision-making.”
The team of experts reviewed all components of cancer control including planning, registration and surveillance, prevention and early detection, diagnostics, treatment and palliative care as well as radiation safety and security of radioactive sources in medical facilities and the role of civil society.
