Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Syria’s national cancer control capacities were assessed in late 2022 by the IAEA and its partners in an imPACT Review. The review found that Syria, like many other middle-income countries in the Arab world, is facing a significant increase in the occurrence of cancer cases. Cancer cases and deaths are expected to double between 2020 and 2030. Childhood cancers make up around five to 10 per cent of the cancer burden in the country, with approximately 1500 new cases each year.
Cancer is too often detected late or at an advanced stage in Syria, presenting a formidable challenge for healthcare providers. The 2022 imPACT review concluded that this cancer burden could be alleviated by early detection schemes, particularly for breast and prostate cancers.
Syria has two well-equipped paediatric oncology centres with multidisciplinary cancer care that treat more than 50 per cent of paediatric cancer patients in the country. However, many children do not complete the recommended treatment due to drug shortages and service disruptions.
An increase in childhood cancers is coupled with limited access to diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, due to shortages of equipment and technology as well as an inadequate workforce and heavy workloads.
The 2022 review recommended that a national action plan be developed for Syria and implemented with IAEA and WHO support — including the development of a cancer registry and surveillance tools, the establishment of a national radiotherapy programme and the implementation of accredited training programmes in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine.