Barriers to Accessing Oncology Services for Effective Cancer Care in the Public Health Institutions in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

It is estimated that by 2030, 24 million people worldwide will develop cancer, and 13 million will die annually, with 75% of deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The management and effective control of care have not been fully achieved due to a lack of material and human resources exacerbated by poor governance and co-ordination of the services. The study aimed to explore barriers to accessing oncology services for effective cancer care in the public health institutions in Limpopo province. The study was conducted in the five district hospitals in Limpopo province. A qualitative exploratory descriptive and contextual approach was used to collect data that employed focus group discussions amongst healthcare professionals in different disciplines. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to sample participants from various sections contributing to oncology care. Five focus group discussions were conducted at the selected hospitals. The data were analysed using the eight steps of Tesch’s method. The findings revealed that Limpopo province has a shortage of high-technology medical equipment, poor coordination, and a lack of oncological and allied expertise. Governments should ensure that patients receive the care required as stated in the constitution to navigate cancer care pathways to improve patient health outcomes, particularly in rural areas where care is fragmented and poorly financed. Recommendations to support oncology patients involve psychosocial work and palliative care of the multidisciplinary teams to be put forward. The identified barriers regarding oncology care may contribute to changing the departments’ outlook and effective functioning by including interdisciplinary oncology teams at all levels of care.

Harnessing the law to advance equitable cancer care in South Africa: exploring the feasibility, desirability and added value of a dedicated national cancer act

“…Nor do they necessarily promote evidence-based standards of treatment, including palliative care [ 5 , 6 ]. Further, in the African context, gaps in NCCP implementation remain, due to limited financing, inadequate service delivery, poor data collection and technical barriers [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]. In addition, while NCCPs guide policy and direct program development, they are not enforceable legal instruments that can advance human rights for cancer care [ 5 ].…”

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Geriatric-Specific Cancer Rehabilitation Programs on Patient Health Outcomes

“…In turn, optimized patient function and resilience with rehabilitation facilitates simpler, safer discharge processes and reduces acute care utilization and costs [21]. Unfortunately, healthcare system barriers including poor integration into oncology care models, limited clinician awareness, narrow eligibility criteria, logistical challenges, and reimbursement policies severely restrict access and utilization of standard cancer rehabilitation services [22]. As a result, cancer rehabilitation remains vastly underutilized representing missed opportunities to maximize patient health [23].…”