The Role of Affordable, Point-of-Care Technologies for Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review and Commentary

Overview

Journal IEEE J Transl Eng Health Med

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2017 Dec 6

PMID 29204328

Citations 18

Authors

Karen Haney

Pushpa Tandon

Rao Divi

Miguel R Ossandon

Houston Baker

Paul C Pearlman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As the burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer continues to rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), it is essential to identify and invest in promising solutions for cancer control and treatment. Point-of-care technologies (POCTs) have played critical roles in curbing infectious disease epidemics in both high- and low-income settings, and their successes can serve as a model for transforming cancer care in LMICs, where access to traditional clinical resources is often limited. The versatility, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity of POCTs warrant attention for their potential to revolutionize cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. This paper reviews the landscape of affordable POCTs for cancer care in LMICs with a focus on imaging tools, diagnostics, and treatment technologies and aspires to encourage innovation and further investment in this space.

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