Urgent Call to Bridge Oncology Therapy Gaps in GCC and Africa
Dubai, Thursday, 14 August 2025.
Despite advancements in precision oncology, significant geographical disparities in access persist in the GCC and Africa, risking inequalities in patient outcomes. Urgent strategies are needed to address these challenges.
Precision Oncology: A Double-Edged Sword
Precision oncology has dramatically reshaped cancer care, offering therapies tailored to an individual’s unique molecular profile. This advancement holds the potential for unprecedented patient outcomes. However, the global rollout of these treatments is inconsistent, with significant disparities in access across geographic regions such as the GCC and Africa, which may exacerbate existing healthcare inequalities if not strategically addressed [1].
GCC and African Access Challenges
In the GCC countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, access to newly launched oncology therapies is limited, as only 31% of the oncology novel active substances got registered between 2014 and 2023. In Africa, the figures are even lower, with only 17% of these substances registered in Egypt and South Africa, and a mere 5% in Algeria [2]. This disparity highlights the influence of systemic barriers such as lengthy registration timelines and reimbursement processes that further delay patient access to critical treatments [1][2].
Strategies and Initiatives to Bridge the Gap
To bridge these gaps, initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Emirati Genome Program have been launched to accelerate the registration and reimbursement processes for precision oncology medicines. These initiatives aim to cut down registration times, which currently have a median of up to 27 months in the GCC and 67 months in selected African countries. However, different paces in reimbursement remain an obstacle, with the UAE taking a median of 6 months compared to 23 months in Saudi Arabia [1][2].
Economic and Health Equity Implications
While these efforts aim to improve precision medicine access, economic implications cannot be overlooked. The inconsistent availability can lead to disparities in healthcare outcomes based on geographic location, affecting both individual patients and broader public health outcomes. Health equity remains a pressing concern, necessitating coordinated policy efforts to ensure equal access and comprehensive care solutions [1][3].
Conclusion: A Collaborative Path Forward
Progress is being made through government investments and proactive healthcare policies, but collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, and biopharmaceutical companies is critical to effectively reduce the disparity in cancer treatment access. Addressing these challenges comprehensively will require not only policy reforms but a rethinking of the current healthcare systems to prioritize both innovation and accessibility [1][2][3].