Barriers and Unequal Access to Timely Molecular Testing Results: Addressing the Inequities in Cancer Care Delays across Canada.
Curr Oncol
; 31(3): 1359-1375, 2024 03 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38534936
ABSTRACT
Genomic medicine is a powerful tool to improve diagnosis and outcomes for cancer patients by facilitating the delivery of the right drug at the right dose at the right time for the right patient. In 2023, a Canadian conference brought together leaders with expertise in different tumor types. The objective was to identify challenges and opportunities for change in terms of equitable and timely access to biomarker testing and reporting at the education, delivery, laboratory, patient, and health-system levels in Canada. Challenges identified included limited patient and clinician awareness of genomic medicine options with need for formal education strategies; failure by clinicians to discuss genomic medicine with patients; delays in or no access to hereditary testing; lack of timely reporting of results; intra- and inter-provincial disparities in access; lack of funding for patients to access testing and for laboratories to provide testing; lack of standardized testing; and impact of social determinants of health. Canada must standardize its approach to biomarker testing across the country, with a view to addressing current inequities, and prioritize access to advanced molecular testing to ensure systems are in place to quickly bring innovation and evidence-based treatments to Canadian cancer patients, regardless of their place of residence or socioeconomic status.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Curr Oncol
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Canadá