Archive · 20 Jul 2026
WHO Report Highlights Cancer Care Inequity
The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report saying that cancer is a big problem worldwide, with millions of new cases and deaths every year.
The report shows that people in rich countries have much better chances of surviving cancer than those in poor countries.
In India, many people are getting cancer, and a lot of them can't afford the treatments they need.
The writer, who is going through cancer treatment, talks about how hard it is to get the right medicines and treatments because they are too expensive.
The report also says that the government should do more to make sure everyone can get the medicines they need, even if it means breaking patent laws to make them cheaper.
The writer hopes that the government will take action to help people like them who are fighting cancer.
WHO reports 20.6 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually worldwide.
Significant survival rate disparity exists between high-income (87%) and low-income (42%) countries for breast cancer.
India faces a high cancer burden with 15.33 lakh new cases expected in 2024, and breast cancer being a major concern.
Access to essential cancer medicines is limited in low- and lower-middle-income countries, exacerbating healthcare inequities.
Patent laws and high drug prices pose barriers to affordable cancer care, with only one compulsory license issued in India since 2001.
- Who
- World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer patients, governments, healthcare systems
- What
- Global inequity in cancer care and access to essential medicines
- When
- Report released on July 8, ongoing issues with cancer care and patent laws
- Where
- Worldwide, with a focus on India
- Why
- To highlight the disparities in cancer care and the impact of patent laws on access to affordable medicines
- New Cancer Cases Annually
- 20.6 million
- Annual Cancer Deaths
- Nearly 10 million
- 5-Year Survival Rate (High-Income Countries)
- 87% for breast cancer
- 5-Year Survival Rate (Low-Income Countries)
- 42% for breast cancer
- Access to Top 20 Cancer Medicines (Wealthier Countries)
- 68-94%
- Access to Top 20 Cancer Medicines (Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries)
- 9-54%
- Estimated New Cancer Cases in India (2024)
- 15.33 lakh
- Breast Cancer Cases in India (2022)
- Over 1.92 lakh
- Breast Cancer Deaths in India (2022)
- Over 98,000
- Cost Reduction of Nexavar via Compulsory Licensing
- From Rs 2.8 lakh to under Rs 9,000 per month