Radiotherapy in the Caribbean: a spotlight on the human resource and equipment challenges among CARICOM nations.

Human Resources for Health
Kellie Alleyne-MikeThana Mohoyodeen

Abstract

There is limited data on access to radiotherapy services for CARICOM nations. This was a descriptive mixed-methods observational study which used data collected via survey from staff working in Radiation Oncology in 14 CARICOM countries. Benchmark recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency were compared to existing numbers. The Directory of Radiotherapy Centers, World Bank, and Global Cancer Observatory databases were all accessed to provide information on radiotherapy machines in the region, population statistics, and cancer incidence data respectively. Both population and cancer incidence-based analyses were undertaken to facilitate an exhaustive review. Radiotherapy machines were present in only 50% of the countries. Brachytherapy services were performed in only six countries (42.9%). There were a total of 15 external beam machines, 22 radiation oncologists, 22 medical physicists, and 60 radiation therapists across all nations. Utilizing patient-based data, the requirement for machines, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists was 40, 66, 44, and 106, respectively. Only four (28.6%) countries had sufficient radiation oncologists. Five (35.7%) countries had enough medical physicists...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 6, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Aviane AugusteCarlene Radix

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Software Mentioned

CARICOM
GLOBOCAN

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