TY - JOUR
T1 - Cancer in refugees in Jordan and Syria between 2009 and 2012
T2 - Challenges and the way forward in humanitarian emergencies
AU - Spiegel, Paul
AU - Khalifa, Adam
AU - Mateen, Farrah J.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Treatment of non-communicable diseases such as cancer in refugees is neglected in low-income and middle-income countries, but is of increasing importance because the number of refugees is growing. The UNHCR, through exceptional care committees (ECCs), has developed standard operating procedures to address expensive medical treatment for refugees in host countries, to decide on eligibility and amount of payment. We present data from funding applications for cancer treatments for refugees in Jordan between 2010 and 2012, and in Syria between 2009 and 2011. Cancer in refugees causes a substantial burden on the health systems of the host countries. Recommendations to improve prevention and treatment include improvement of health systems through standard operating procedures and innovative financing schemes, balance of primary and emergency care with expensive referral care, development of electronic cancer registries, and securement of sustainable funding sources. Analysis of cancer care in low-income refugee settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is needed to inform future responses.
AB - Treatment of non-communicable diseases such as cancer in refugees is neglected in low-income and middle-income countries, but is of increasing importance because the number of refugees is growing. The UNHCR, through exceptional care committees (ECCs), has developed standard operating procedures to address expensive medical treatment for refugees in host countries, to decide on eligibility and amount of payment. We present data from funding applications for cancer treatments for refugees in Jordan between 2010 and 2012, and in Syria between 2009 and 2011. Cancer in refugees causes a substantial burden on the health systems of the host countries. Recommendations to improve prevention and treatment include improvement of health systems through standard operating procedures and innovative financing schemes, balance of primary and emergency care with expensive referral care, development of electronic cancer registries, and securement of sustainable funding sources. Analysis of cancer care in low-income refugee settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is needed to inform future responses.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901473977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84901473977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70067-1
DO - 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70067-1
M3 - Review article
C2 - 24872112
AN - SCOPUS:84901473977
SN - 1470-2045
VL - 15
SP - e290-e297
JO - The Lancet Oncology
JF - The Lancet Oncology
IS - 7
ER -