The incidence of cancer worldwide is increasing, representing a public health problem and an ever-growing burden on healthcare systems. This higher incidence is putting pressure on health systems, despite the existence of alternatives to accelerate the integration of new treatments, such as value-based purchasing. Innovative public purchasing schemes have a cost-effectiveness component associated with them and allow for improving processes and achieving long-term savings, facilitating access for patients to cutting-edge treatments.
It is suggested that personalized treatments impact both the clinical outcomes of patients and the healthcare system as a whole. In the words of Dr. Torres, the focus is on "the right therapy for the right patient." Other innovations aim to improve the detection and diagnosis of cancer through the use of technology and artificial intelligence, which can enhance the predictive ability of the likelihood that individuals will develop the disease.
Victoria Brenes, Executive Director of Fedefarma, highlights the role of the pharmaceutical industry in oncological research and calls on authorities to expedite the incorporation of innovative therapies into health coverage. The extension of cancer poses significant challenges for the medical industry and pharmaceutical laboratories, which are researching innovative molecules with a more personalized approach.
Prevention remains the best alternative against cancer, especially by modifying risk factors such as poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Dr. Liliana Torres confirms that treatments for cancer patients will become increasingly precise, which implies the need to improve access to treatments for all individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Oncological innovation opens the door to more personalized therapies that use genetic information to identify specific alterations and treat them in a targeted manner. This approach has high potential, considering that each patient has unique characteristics and requires individualized treatment.
