Oncology services in Colombia

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the current status of oncological services supply in Colombia.Methods: A descriptive analysis of oncological services for cancer care in the adult and infant population that meet the requirements for operation according to the Special Register of Health Service Providers was carried out. The case - by - provider ratio was calculated based on the cancer incidence estimated for Colombia by the National Cancer Institute.Results: Were identified 1,780 qualified oncology health services in the country related to specialties for providing care to cancer patients. Twenty five providers nationwide had all three qualified services: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Nearly 50% of the offer was concentrated in Bogotá, Antioquia and Valle del Cauca. Putumayo and the Amazonas group departments, with the exception of Vaupés, did not show any oncological services. Healthcare Providers were responsible for 87.8%, and independent professionals provided 12.2%. Outpatient services were 66.7% of oncology services, 17.4% was diagnostic support services and therapeutic complementation, and 15.9% was surgical services. 87.9% of the oncological service offer in Colombia takes place in the private sector.Conclusions: The ratio between the service groups is asymmetric, with few providers jointly offering the basic services for oncology treatment, which reflects how provision is fragmented. It is necessary to redefine the concept of oncology service under a comprehensive care approach and the importance of enabling functional units, comprehensive treatment centers and other forms of care.

Cali Cancer Registry Methods

“…The RPCC has social recognition in the city, thus facilitating the process of data collection that is made passively and actively from the various sources of data information. The oncological care facilities in Cali, include 165 oncology services enabled 8 to offer accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment to 9,000 patients per year 39 . Since its foundation in 1962, the RPCC limited the registration area to the urban area of ​​Cali and developed a clear definition of "case", including only the new cases of cancer diagnosed in the permanent residents of the city; and excluding the cases of patients referred to the city for diagnostic and / or treatment procedures.…”

“…El RPCC tiene reconocimiento social en la ciudad, facilitando así el proceso de recopilación de datos que se hace de manera pasiva y activa en las diferentes fuentes de información. La infraestructura para la atención oncológica en Cali, cuenta con 165 servicios oncológicos habilitados 8 para ofrecer diagnóstico correcto y tratamiento adecuado a 9000 pacientes anuales 39 Desde su fundación en 1962, el RPCC limitó el área de registro al casco urbano de Cali y elaboró una definición clara de “caso”, incluyendo solo los casos nuevos de cáncer diagnosticados en los residentes permanente de la ciudad; y excluyendo los casos de pacientes remitidos a la ciudad para procedimientos de diagnóstico y/o tratamiento. Para la estimación de las tasas y para construir las tablas de vida para el estudio de la supervivencia, se requiere denominadores fiables basados en los censos y proyecciones de población.…”

“…The life expectancy at birth was 73.1 years for men, and 78.5 years for women 7 . The facilities for oncological care includes165 oncology services 8 , located in the urban area, where 95% of the population resides in an area of ​​110 km 2 . This area corresponds to 20% of the extension of the municipality of Cali (561.7 km 2 ) 9 ; Administratively Cali was divided into 22 communes, with a gross density of 4,094.7 inhabitants/km 2 .…”

“…La expectativa de vida al nacimiento es 73.1 años para hombres, y 78.5 años para las mujeres 7 . La infraestructura para la atención oncológica cuenta con 165 servicios oncológicos habilitados 8 , ubicados en el área urbana, donde reside el 95% de la población en un área de 110 km que corresponde al 20% de la extensión del municipio de Cali (561.7 km 2 ) 9 .…”

The Colombian Medical Oncologists Workforce

“…By 2012, there were 748 health care centers with oncology services available in the country, 19 a figure that drops down to 443 in 2017 with an increase in the average number of oncology services per center (ie medical oncology, radiotherapy, oncology surgery, palliative care, etc.). 20 Similarly, in the United States a reduction in the number but increase in size of oncology centers has been observed 15 ; however, in Colombia the number of new cases per year by oncology center remains low (between 55 in La Guajira and 309 in Casanare). 20…”