The Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON) has called for improved quality, coordination and efficiency in cancer treatment, saying increased access to healthcare must translate into better outcomes for patients.
The Acting President of ARCON, Dr Biyi Olutunde, made the call in Abuja at a press briefing to announce the association’s 9th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, themed ‘From Access to Excellence: Optimising Multimodality Cancer Care.’
The conference runs from Monday to Wednesday in Abuja.
Olutunde said Nigeria had made progress in expanding access to cancer care but needed to address delays in diagnosis, treatment and patient navigation to ensure available services delivered optimal results.
‘Access is improving,’ she said, noting that the number of functional radiotherapy centres had increased from the one or two available when she began practising oncology to about nine or 10 centres currently providing services.
He attributed the progress partly to collaboration with the Federal Government and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which had improved access to cancer drugs and recently included radiotherapy in its coverage.
However, she said access without quality and timely care could undermine treatment outcomes.
‘After access, which is still important, to what extent is the quality of care that they are getting?’ she asked, stressing the need to move from access to excellence.
Olutunde cited delays in obtaining histology results after a biopsy and weak patient navigation as examples of gaps that could affect treatment.
‘You would come to the hospital, and then you would have a biopsy done, and it would still take a month or two before your histology report is ready. So you have access, but there’s a delay,’ she said.
He added that patients need clear guidance on where to obtain radiotherapy and other specialised services, and that existing facilities must function effectively for those seeking care.
The ARCON acting President said the conference would focus on multidisciplinary tumour boards, advances in radiotherapy, precision medicine, cancer research, local clinical trials, palliative care and survivorship.
He dismissed suggestions that the association’s annual conference was a jamboree, saying it had produced practical improvements in cancer management across hospitals.
According to him, the meetings promote knowledge-sharing among oncologists and other healthcare professionals while strengthening collaboration with foreign institutions and research partners.
He said the association’s previous conference helped establish multidisciplinary tumour boards in two or three hospitals, enabling specialists to jointly review cases and determine appropriate treatment.
‘Cancer is not being managed just by oncologists. We also have surgeons, pathologists and other specialities,’ he said, emphasising that collaboration was essential to optimal patient care.
Furthermore, he said radiotherapy in Nigeria had improved considerably, with some centres now offering more advanced treatment techniques than were previously available.
According to him, the conference could help address the impact of brain drain by encouraging younger doctors to pursue oncology and ensuring continuity in delivering quality cancer care.
Olutunde acknowledged recent government efforts to expand cancer services but called for increased healthcare funding, stronger policies and better systems to support treatment delivery.
He urged the government to facilitate the establishment of radiotherapy and brachytherapy centres, improve training and infrastructure, ease access to financing for healthcare providers and review import duties on medical equipment.
He also welcomed plans to establish radiotherapy centres across the states, saying implementation would significantly improve access to specialised care.
‘Healthcare generally in this country is not enough. There’s room for improvement,’ she said, urging sustained collaboration between ARCON and government to identify gaps and formulate policies that would improve cancer treatment.
The ARCON acting President also urged Nigerians to seek medical attention early when they notice suspicious symptoms, warning that fear and delays could worsen cancer outcomes.
‘Cancer is treatable as long as you diagnose early and you then seek treatment early,’ he said, urging patients to follow the advice of qualified oncologists rather than delay treatment or rely on unproven alternatives.
He encouraged Nigerians to enrol in the NHIA scheme to access covered treatments at reduced cost and seek professional care within their localities.
‘Cancer care is actually possible in this country and is improving on a daily basis,’ he said, adding that treatment could offer cure, prolonged life and relief from suffering, depending on the circumstances of each patient.