Radiotherapy resources in the Philippines: A 2022 update

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death in the Philippines, with radiotherapy (RT) being essential for treatment and palliation.
• Optimizing RT resources is critical given the country's cancer burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey and assess the current state of radiotherapy facilities, personnel, and services in the Philippines.
• To identify disparities and areas for improvement in RT accessibility and resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to the heads of all 50 RT facilities nationwide.
• Data collected included facility ownership, staffing, and available radiotherapy technologies and services.

Main Results:

• A high response rate (98%) was achieved, revealing that most RT facilities are privately owned, with significant regional disparities.
• The Philippines has a limited number of linear accelerators and radiation oncology professionals relative to its population.
• While advanced RT techniques like 3D-CRT and IMRT are widely available, stereotactic radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy are less common.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, significant gaps in RT accessibility and resources persist in the Philippines.
• There is an urgent need for investment in training and retaining RT personnel, alongside the development of public cancer centers, particularly in underserved regions.
• Expanding services like HDR brachytherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy, and establishing a national RT task force are recommended to improve quality, availability, and accessibility.