The Index of Cancer Preparedness (ICP) has been developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), providing an extensive overview of data related to cancer policy and control, which has been collected from 28 different countries. The main purpose of the ICP is to offer a measure for comparing national efforts in cancer management and help in discovering the most effective approaches to tackle the cancer challenge.
Understanding the Index of Cancer Preparedness (ICP)
According to the ICP rankings, Australia leads the way in terms of cancer preparedness, closely followed by the Netherlands and Germany. On the other end of the spectrum, Saudi Arabia, Romania, and Egypt appear to be struggling, sitting at the bottom of the Index.
The ICP evaluates cancer preparedness across three main domains: policy and planning, care delivery, and health systems and governance. There are four key aspects to preparedness: essential investment, which involves appropriate allocation of resources and spending; a well-defined roadmap or plan, foundational health systems that function optimally, and high-quality and easily accessible cancer-related data.
What Do We Know About Cancer?
Cancer is a term used to represent a diverse set of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of cells that can spread to different parts of the body. It is also commonly referred to as malignant tumors and neoplasms. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with estimates suggesting that it was responsible for around 9.6 million deaths in 2018. To raise awareness about cancer, World Cancer Day is observed on the 4th of February every year.
Role of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
The EIU, founded in 1946, is a research and analysis division of The Economist Group. Its role is crucial in providing global business intelligence.
India’s Performance in the Index
On the Index of Cancer Preparedness, India holds the 19th position with a score of 64.9. Despite ranking only 17th in cancer policy and planning, India scores high (80.8) mainly due to its strong cancer research and tobacco control measures. It ranked first for research and third for tobacco control in the ICP.
India’s national cancer control plan places it at the 23rd spot. With a health care system that scores just 40.3, India ranks 25th in the index, performing better only than Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and Egypt. The healthcare infrastructure in India is the second worst among the countries included in the index.
In terms of delivering cancer care, India ranks 20th with a score of 61.3. It achieves high marks in clinical guidelines, leading to its number one ranking in this category. However, India needs improvement in areas like immunization, screening, and early detection.
Worldwide Cancer Preparedness: Some Facts
| Fact | Data |
|---|---|
| Leading country in ICP | Australia |
| Second cause of death globally | Cancer |
| Cancer deaths in 2018 | 9.6 million |
| India's overall rank in ICP | 19th |
| India's rank in healthcare system | 25th |
Conclusion
The Index of Cancer Preparedness provides an important tool for countries to assess their readiness and strategies in handling the cancer challenge. While some countries like Australia excel, others have areas for significant improvement, including India, which despite strong cancer research is lagging in healthcare infrastructure and early detection measures.
