Pediatric Oncology in the Arab World

Abstract

It is estimated that more than 18,000 children are diagnosed annually with cancer in the Arab countries. With great variations in the level of income and health infrastructure among different countries, services provided to children with cancer are not always optimal. Many Arab countries were affected by political and economic instability, which was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia estimated as 5-year net survival ranges from <20% (Somalia) to more than 80% (Arab Gulf Countries, Jordan). The strategies to improve the outcomes of childhood cancer include decreasing diagnosis delays, treatment abandonment and essential drugs shortages. The evidence-based and cost-effective regimens should be utilized, and multidisciplinary services need to be established. Twinning can help units in less favorable conditions. The cancer registries linked to survival data are essential to help physicians and policymakers appreciate the impact of different interventions. There is a great chance for partnership, twinning, and collaborative research among institutions in the Arab World.

Paediatric oncology in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR): the current state and challenges

“…In HIC, centres such as the King Fahd Medical City are well-funded and resourced and can provide high-quality paediatric oncology care. The range of quality-of-care provision in public hospitals in LIC/LMIC is large, with reasonably resourced centres such as the Children’s Hospital, Lahore, able to diagnose and treat large numbers of patients utilising a robust, multidisciplinary approach at one end and hospitals with poor provision of resources and technology, such as the National Oncology Center in Sana’a, Yemen, on the other end [ 32 ]. In EMR countries like Somalia and Djibouti, paediatric cancer care is almost non-existent [ 32 ].…”

“…In the lower-income countries of the EMR, the WHO reports that out-of-pocket health expenditure can reach 75% [ 46 ]. In Egypt, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the cost of PO treatment is documented as difficult for many families to afford, and it can lead to job abandonment and neglect of other children, especially as the average family size in the EMR countries is around five [ 32 ]. Similarly, transportation and accommodations can be a major challenge to the continuity of care [ 32 ].…”

“…In Egypt, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the cost of PO treatment is documented as difficult for many families to afford, and it can lead to job abandonment and neglect of other children, especially as the average family size in the EMR countries is around five [ 32 ]. Similarly, transportation and accommodations can be a major challenge to the continuity of care [ 32 ]. These difficulties lead to the relatively higher rates of treatment abandonment in the region.…”

Increasing pediatric radiation oncology capacity in sub-saharan Africa using technology: a pilot of a pediatric radiation oncology virtual training course

“…The disparity in access to pediatric cancer care in SSA is a contributing factor to lower survival rates ranging from 8.1 to 30.3%. compared to 80% recorded in high-income countries [ 6 , 8 ].…”

Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Omani Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Cancer: A prospective cross-sectional study

“…In Arab countries, over 18,000 children below the age of 15 years are diagnosed with cancer every year, with annual incidence rates ranging from 7.5 to 12.8 cases per 100,000 children, although variations may be due to differences in registration accuracy [4]. In Oman, approximately 31% of the total population is under 19 years of age [5].…”