How can cancer treatment become accessible to everyone? The ATOM Coalition is launching a new initiative that seeks practical ways to ensure all patients, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, can access cancer medications. The initiative will help these countries create equitable payment models and secure long-term funding for cancer treatment. This offers hope to countless individuals that treatment will become an accessible right for all, rather than a luxury.
The ATOM Coalition (Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition) is an international initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), aiming to improve access to cancer treatment drugs. The initiative evaluates healthcare financing systems in various countries.
A study conducted in Georgia revealed that funding for oncology drugs has significantly increased over the past decade. However, diagnostics remain a weak link, with every second cancer case being detected late, at stages III–IV.
Furthermore, cancer treatment in Georgia continues to be a severe financial burden for thousands of families. Despite the state healthcare program fully funding oncology drugs, patients often still have to pay for expensive diagnostic tests. This reduces treatment effectiveness and contributes to the delayed detection of the disease.
According to the ATOM Coalition’s new research, between 2013 and 2017, funding for oncology services in Georgia increased by 37 million GEL, reaching 68 million GEL. In 2013, 2.5 million GEL was spent on oncology drugs, while in 2023, this figure rose to 107 million GEL. Additionally, direct negotiations with manufacturers have led to price regulation for drugs.
However, late disease detection remains a significant challenge. As of 2021 data, only 38% of oncology cases were detected at stages I and II, while almost the same number, 38.6%, were found at stages III and IV. This complicates treatment and increases costs.
Despite the progress made, experts note that funding for drugs alone is insufficient. The ATOM Coalition’s report explicitly states that if diagnostics are inaccessible, funding for innovative drugs yields fewer results. Funding the entire chain is necessary to reduce instances of delayed cancer detection.
You can find the full ATOM report here:
Goguadze, K., Castro, H., H., & Chakraborty, S. (2024). Health Financing Case Studies: Georgia Case Study. ATOM Coalition Link
