1/6 Recently, our pathologists have noted an increase in the average size of resected tumors in cancer patients, as well as a rising severity of specimens from appendectomies. These observations indicate that patients are presenting to hospitals much later in their illness, why?
2/6 One reason is Covid. When many hospitals reallocated their resources towards Covid care, the services in other departments were affected, occasionally resulting in delayed management. Furthermore, patients, for fear of catching the virus, delay going to health facilities.
3/6 Another reason is also related to Covid. Raising public awareness, such as early cancer detection campaigns, play an important role in encouraging patients to undergo screening. This year, however, all efforts seem to be focused on Covid. Other issues are not being noticed.
4/6 In 🇱🇧, the faltering economy also plays an important role. Our healthcare system is largely private. Many patients do not have health coverage, or cannot afford the cost of seeing a doctor or visiting the emergency room. They delay, hoping the complaint will just go away.
5/6 Delayed presentation ultimately results in a more severe illness. The treatment then will cost even more. The result is a vicious cycle. To break it, more has to be invested in prevention and early detection, ie in primary healthcare services and better coverage for the poor.
6/6 All of the above is not unique to 🇱🇧, and has been reported elsewhere. Our deep financial crisis, however, will make it much worse. As the saying goes, it never rains, but it pours. For our rapidly increasing impoverished community, spring seems to be a very distant affair.
Loading suggestions...