The League Against Cancer denounces inequalities in access to care and medication.
- The League Against Cancer denounces inequalities in access to care for the most vulnerable.
- 3 out of 10 people with cancer surveyed by BVA Xsight reported difficulties accessing care.
- In 2023, 29% of respondents still declared out-of-pocket expenses during their care journey.
The League Against Cancer entrusted BVA Xsight with a study to measure recent developments in access to cancer care and medications.
“Its results reveal that the major tensions experienced by the French health system are causing further deterioration in the care pathway for cancer patients,” summarizes the League against Cancer in a press release. “This deterioration of care endangers the precious achievements of successive cancer plans and constitutes a threat to the health of users causing serious losses of opportunity,” she adds.
Cancer: extension of access times to treatments
The BVA 9.3 weeks during the previous research conducted for the League in 2019.
At the same time, due to delays in accessing treatment, the average duration of the treatment course has also lengthened considerably, with an average of 6 additional weeks.
“For several years, despite repeated warnings and the mobilization of public authorities, drug shortages have worsened,” also sues the League. 78% of healthcare professionals surveyed have already been confronted with this phenomenon. In addition, it is almost always drugs intended to treat complications or side effects of cancer that top the list (56% of shortages declared by professionals) followed by other drugs used during the course of care such as curares. (33%) and chemotherapy (22%). “These supply tensions or shortages of medicines have consequences on sick people: anxiety and anxiety (32%), significant loss of time looking for unavailable medicine (28%), worsening of other symptoms (7%) or even even cancer (3%)”deplore the activists.
Cancer: difficulties accessing care
Furthermore, 3 out of 10 people surveyed by BVA Xsight reported difficulties accessing care: postponement or cancellation of consultations and treatments, refusal of care, problem accessing one or more medications. “The most vulnerable people, those whose income is less than 2,500 euros per month (39%) but also those who live in Paris (38%), are particularly affected by the postponement or cancellation of consultations or care,” underline the specialists. “People treated in public healthcare establishments (35%) are more likely to face these problems compared to those treated in cancer centers (CLCC) or private hospitals,” can we also read in the press release. This situation appears even more worrying in the overseas departments and regions, where 50% of caregivers of sick people report problems accessing care for their sick loved one.
“Several studies also reveal gender inequalities in the quality of care pathways. Women and people of color are less well taken care of,” adds the institution.
Cancer: out-of-pocket costs during the treatment process
Latest lesson from the survey: in 2023, 29% of participants still declared dependent expenses during their care journey. These uncovered expenses are linked to supportive care, use of alternative medicine, home help or accommodation costs when treatments take place away from home. “And finally, despite the reform of the coverage of hair prostheses which took place in 2019, 14% of participants in our survey reported out-of-pocket expenses for the acquisition of their wig,” ends the League.
“Nothing should make us go backwards in the fight against inequalities”, concludes Daniel Nizri, national president of the League Against Cancer.
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