Improvements in radiation therapy services in Myanmar: 2012-2020

Myanmar is a Low-Middle Income Country (LMIC) in South-East Asia. Over the last decade, reforms to the health system have included significant improvements in the delivery of radiation therapy services in both government and private-for-profit sectors.

This review uses limited cancer registry data, observations from in-person visits, and data from key informants in Myanmar radiation therapy centres, to report on developments in radiation therapy services in recent years.

Rising national cancer incidence estimates presented in this article are supplemented with annual cancer case and radiation therapy course completion statistics from three hospital / regional contexts. Strategies which enabled the increased delivery of radiation therapy services are described. Data regarding the geographic locations of radiation therapy centres, their equipment and software inventories, is tabulated. The impact on clinical practice standards through upgraded equipment and software used for treatment planning and delivery is discussed. Clinical staffing at each centre is catalogued, role descriptions are given, and increases in staff numbers in recent years are documented. The present clinical and academic education challenges for radiation therapy staff and the importance of these issues for technical practice advancements are discussed.

Myanmar's successes and continued challenges in radiation therapy service delivery are emulated in other LMIC's. Strategic planning for new and existing radiation therapy centres, further staff increases and improved academic and clinical learning for radiation therapy staff should assist in meeting these challenges. Further international engagement could also enhance these processes.