The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) identifies a number of challenges that arose during the pandemic, such as delays in cancer screening and diagnosis, disruption of cancer prevention services, treatment and care and pressures on the healthcare workforce. This exacerbated health and social inequities, with a disproportionate effect on First Nations, Inuit and Métis. CPAC notes that attention needs to be given to three focus areas to boost system capacity and save lives:
- Solving the healthcare human resources crunch;
- Preparing for a surge in cases, and
- Leveraging the potential of new ways of delivering care including those supported by digital technologies.
A McGill study predicts the possibility of more than 20,000 additional cancer-related deaths over the next 10 years. It says that could be reduced by almost 16,000 if the cancer system's diagnostic and treatment capacity is increased 10% above pre-pandemic levels.
Related:
Un nouveau rapport demande que l’on se concentre de toute urgence sur les soins liés au cancer à la suite des perturbations causées par la pandémie de COVID-19 - PCCC