Improvement of radiotherapy facilities in developing countries: a three-tier system with a teleradiotherapy network

Incidence of cancer has been projected to rise worldwide by around 50% in the next 20 years, most of which will be in developing countries. To face this unprecedented global health problem, it is essential to plan effective health-care strategies. Radiotherapy-a main component of the multidisciplinary therapeutic approach for cancer-involves a huge capital investment that can pose difficulties for developing countries. Limited resources should therefore be used effectively to meet the projected requirements and to find ways to offer quality-assured radiotherapy to patients. Taking advantage of the global explosion of telecommunication technology, we present a proposal for creation of an integrated three-tier radiotherapy service, which consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary radiotherapy centres in developing countries - coordinated through a teleradiotherapy network. Such a network could be cost effective, help to bridge the gap, and give all patients access to the state-of-the-art technology in radiotherapy.