Population Scale Cancer Screening in Africa: Is It Worth the Cost?

By Adebowale Bello.  BTech (Microbiology). Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by The DLHA Team.

Public health investment is maximised when population level cancer screening is targeted to achieve the highest benefit at the lowest cost. Click on image to enlarge.

"Although implementing population scale comprehensive cancer screening programs in Africa may seem challenging, the potential long-term benefits are too significant to ignore. Early detection not only saves lives but also reduces the financial burden of treating advanced cancers on both families and healthcare systems".

Cancer is a significant global health challenge. Early detection through screening can dramatically improve patient outcomes but for African nations facing numerous health crises, one question stands out — is population scale cancer screening worth the cost?

A recent study from the United States offers valuable insights into the economic implications of  population scale cancer screening programs. In 2021 alone, the U.S spent $43 billion on initial screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.

Notably, the study found that these costs were lower than the expenses incurred for cancer treatment in the first year after diagnosis. This suggests that investing in population scale screening can lead to long-term savings by detecting cancers early, when they are more treatable.

While the figures from the U.S may not directly apply to African healthcare systems, the broader lesson is clear: investing in population level cancer prevention and early detection can save lives and reduce overall healthcare costs. However, with limited resources, African nations must identify cost-effective screening strategies that offer the most significant benefit.

The healthcare landscape in Africa differs significantly from that of the United States. With limited resources and numerous pressing health issues, African countries must approach population scale cancer screening with a strategic mindset to ensure that the costs justify the benefits.

For example, cervical cancer screening is relatively inexpensive compared to more costly screenings like those for brain cancer. By prioritizing screenings that offer the highest benefit relative to their cost, African countries can maximize the impact of their public health investments.

The study also highlighted the rising costs of cancer screening, partly due to facility fees. In Africa, where healthcare budgets are often limited and access challenges abound, lower-cost screening locations or mobile screening units could significantly increase access while keeping expenses manageable. Mobile units, in particular, could bring essential screening services to remote and underserved areas, ensuring that more people benefit from early detection.

Private insurance covered most of the screening costs in the study but this is an area where Africa still lags behind. The reliance on out-of-pocket payments for screenings may discourage many individuals from seeking these potentially life-saving services, however affordable health insurance coverage can lighten this burden.

Although implementing population scale comprehensive cancer screening programs in Africa may seem challenging, the potential long-term benefits are too significant to ignore. Early detection not only saves lives but also reduces the financial burden of treating advanced cancers on both families and healthcare systems.

As non-communicable diseases, including cancer, become increasingly prevalent in Africa, ignoring the need for screening could lead to a future health crisis. By investing wisely in public health prevention, African countries can avoid much larger costs down the line.

Wrap Up

Population scale cancer screening doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. African nations could start with targeted programs for the most common or easily detectable cancers with low cost-benefits and gradually expand these initiatives based on available resources and evidence of effectiveness.

In the fight against cancer, early detection remains one of our most powerful tools and African governments, policymakers and healthcare providers must urgently prioritize public health cancer screening strategies.

The investment is significant but the potential to save lives and reduce healthcare costs is far greater as inaction could lead to a devastating health crisis that Africa cannot afford.

Source: Michael T. Halpern, Benmei Liu, Douglas R. Lowy, et al. The Annual Cost of Cancer Screening in the United States. Ann Intern Med. [Internet] 6 August 2024. doi:10.7326/M24-0375. Cited 19 August 2024. Available from here.

Related:

Cervical Cancer Screening Information for African women

Colon Cancer Screening Rate Increases When People Are Offered Choices, Study

Published: August 19, 2024

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