This report aims to explore inequities surrounding high-quality care and prostate cancer across Mexico. Despite advances in innovative therapies and the establishment of more modern national cancer control strategies, both the data on outcomes and on-the-ground experience for patients indicate a great variation in access to impactful and timely care related to the second most prevalent cancer in Mexico.
There are multiple barriers to care, including a segmented provision of healthcare system services, social stigma that limits diagnosis, a lack of training for healthcare professionals, and limited resources, both material and human. While these challenges may loom large, this report seeks to identify and quantify precisely where these breakdowns in care occur and to illuminate possible solutions. With coordinated intervention, the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer can be vastly improved, including access to innovation.
It is evident that the Mexican healthcare system must find a way to improve the access and care of patients with prostate cancer. A multi-pronged approach involving all key stakeholders is essential to be successful in this endeavor. Therefore, we recommend that efforts should be focused on four main areas: public awareness, education of medical professionals, resource allocation improvement, and policy changes.
