Radiotherapy medical physics in the Philippines: A contemporary overview

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Cancer Treatment

Background:

• Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines.
• Significant disparities exist in healthcare resources across Philippine regions.
• The state of radiotherapy medical physics in the Philippines is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of radiotherapy medical physics in the Philippines.
• To identify challenges and opportunities in the field.
• To inform strategies for improving cancer care access and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive online survey was conducted.
• Nineteen radiotherapy clinics participated in the survey.
• The survey included 94 structured questions covering various aspects of radiotherapy physics.

Main Results:

• Linear accelerators (LINACs) are universally used; High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy is common.
• Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and 3D-Conformal Radiotherapy (3D-CRT) are widely available.
• Advanced techniques (SBRT, SRS, IORT) are limited to the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Computed Tomography (CT) is widely adopted for imaging, but dedicated CT simulators are less common.
• Patient-specific Quality Assurance (PSQA) is performed by most clinics, with EPID dosimetry being prevalent.
• Treatment interruptions are primarily due to staffing and machine downtime.
• Most clinics document safety incidents, but few report to the IAEA SAFRON program.
• Participants expressed willingness for research collaboration despite time constraints.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to address workforce disparities in radiotherapy medical physics.
• Equitable access to advanced cancer treatment requires improved resource allocation.
• Optimization of dosimetric tools and Quality Assurance (QA) devices is crucial.
• Prioritizing resource allocation and fostering research collaboration can advance radiation oncology practices in the Philippines.