Radiotherapy treatment for cancer increased by over 20% during 2021, an uptick from the previous year when most hospitals were operating a limited service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, just over 23,000 people received radiotherapy treatment in state hospitals during 2021. This was an increase from 2020, but less than 2019. The Ministry reports that on average, 6000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Albania every year.
Cancer is also the second leading cause of death in the country, accounting for 16%, with cardiovascular problems being the number one cause. This equates to some 3600 deaths with 10% in the under 50s.
Lung cancer is the most prevalent, closely followed by breast cancer. According to data from the Institute of Public Health, cancer incidence is increasing year-on-year, likely due to the ageing population. This is further exacerbated by issues relating to lifestyle and the environment.
The number of deaths related to cancer and other noncommunicable diseases will increase over the next decade, also due to the pandemic. Lockdowns, restricted medical services, and fear of visiting a hospital will lead to later diagnosis for many patients, as well as increased mortality.
“Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing concern for Albanian society due to the high mortality rate. They have had a significant increase during the period 1990-2010, a trend that is expected to continue in the next 10 years as a result of increasing life expectancy and the ageing of the Albanian population,” the National Health Strategy 2021-2030 reads.
Just this week, the World Health Organisation sounded the alarm over a “pandemic” of NCDs around the world.
During a meeting between members, they pledged to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030.
“Apart from the lives they take, NCDs take a heavy toll on economies, cutting down people in their most productive years. Overcoming this challenge requires technical, financial, and above all, political commitment. said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO.
NCDs are largely preventable and treatable, according to the global compact, which reports that an investment of US$ 0.84 per person per year until 2030 could save nearly seven million lives.
“This investment would realise more than US$ 230 billion in economic and societal benefits and avert nearly 10 million heart attacks and strokes globally by 2030”, the WHO press release stated.
