United Nations Radio

cancer screening

Cancer patients in developing countries often lack access to the technology to treat their illness. For this reason, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established an advisory group which challenged radiotherapy equipment manufacturers to come up with affordable, safe solutions. The group recently held its inaugural meeting in Vienna and will convene again later this year. Louise Potterton talks to Dr. Thinh Dang Huy Quoc, a radiation oncologist in Viet Nam, about the challenges of providing cancer treatment there.

Duration: 3'46"

QUOC: And with the population 84 million people but we have around 20 to 25 machines, it's not enough and that's why it is very difficult for our cancer patient to get access to radiation therapy.

POTTERTON: Is cancer on the increase in Viet Nam?

QUOC: Yeah now cancer in Viet Nam is a big problem, a burden of cancer in Viet Nam. And after cardiovascular disease, cancer is the second killer of Vietnamese or Asians and every year we estimate around 150,000 new cases and its very underestimate because we dot have a National Cancer Registry. And so unfortunately two thirds of them come to the hospital with advanced stage of the disease. And that's why the prognosis is still very poor and the majority of them cannot reach prompt radiation therapy in developing radiation therapy for our cancer patients.

POTTERTON: So you have people with cancer who need to be treated but who can't get this treatment because of lack of equipment?

QUOC: That's right; and so the waiting list for treatment for radiation therapy is very long and many patients have to wait at least two months for the treatment. And so you know cancer, by this time cancer is continuing to progress and that's why the prognosis is still very poor.

POTTERTON: Could you tell me the purpose of your trip to Vienna, the purpose of this advisory group?

QUOC: I think the purpose for this meeting is very fruitful for developing countries because we can share with each other our experiences and we can share our thinking to manufacture so we can find the best solution to manufacture appropriate, affordable machines for developing countries. Because now in developing countries the financial support is still very limited and so if a manufacturer and we are together, we can make a difference in cancer control and cancer management.

POTTERTON: What is your message to the industry, to the manufacturers? What are you calling for?

QUOC: I think the manufacturer should be responsible to their manufacturer because in my experience in some countries like Viet Nam, and after selling the machine and giving the time warranty and sometimes it's very difficult for us to ask our manufacturer or supplier come in time to fix the problem. That's the first thing I would like to say, that manufacturers and suppliers be more responsible and they should think about the benefit for cancer patients. And they have to balance for the benefit of the company and the benefit of cancer patients in developing countries.

POTTERTON: Could you just give me an insight into your daily life, the way you work, the way you act with cancer patients; any personal stories as far as this limited access is concerned?

QUOC: You know, in my career, in my experience, I see many situations in which the patient living far away from the hospital and when I get cancer they are not able to go to my hospital. There are many reasons. For example, long distance transportation is difficult between the house and the hospital. And the second thing is when they come to my hospital for radiation therapy because there are a lot of patients and so they have to wait. Sometimes I see the patient and the patient did not reach radiation therapy and was dying, he was dying because he had to wait for the treatment and finally we were not able to provide him in time treatment, radiation therapy. It's a very sad story.

PRES: Dr. Thinh Dang Huy Quoc, Vice-Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital in Viet Nam.