ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S853

Clinical - CNS

ESTRO 2024

Literature evidence (1) suggests that efforts other than expanding the number of PBT facilities will be required to eliminate disparities on a global scale.Over the past decade, policymakers have begun investigating access to PBT, and the extent to which this is influenced by various factors, including for example socio-economic disparities. One of the NHS’s core values is equity of access. The NHS considered the need to lessen geographic variation that may contribute to health inequalities as it developed the policies and procedures related to PBT access in the UK. Since the beginning of the POP, a national web-based Proton Referral Pathway has been crucial in ensuring accessibility to PBT across the nation (Fig 2). Research is ongoing to understand socioeconomic, geographic and other barriers which may still exist and which may vary between regions. There needs to be ongoing re-evaluation of differences in access to PBT to comprehend disparities and, perhaps most importantly, address any systematic discrimination within the system.

Keywords: close the care gap, equity of access, protons

References:

(1) Gaito S, Aznar MC, Burnet NG, Crellin A, France A, Indelicato D, Kirkby KJ, Pan S, Whitfield G, Smith E. Assessing Equity of Access to Proton Beam Therapy: A Literature Review. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2023 Sep;35(9):e528-e536. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2023.05.014. Epub 2023 May 30. PMID: 37296036.

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