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Addressing the burden of lung cancer in Mongolia


Data from the World Cancer Research Fund in 2022 indicates that Mongolia has the highest age-standardized cancer mortality rate worldwide, at 181.5 per 100,000 people. Over 70% of cancers are detected at advanced stages, significantly limiting treatment options and contributing to high mortality, with lung, liver, and cervical cancers ranking among the most prevalent. Mongolia’s cancer burden is shaped by unique environmental factors, limited healthcare infrastructure, competing health priorities, and significant financial barriers to care.


Lung cancer poses a significant health challenge in Mongolia, with a notable trend of late-stage diagnoses. In 2017, the incidence rate of lung cancer was 14 per 100,000 population, an increase from 9.9 per 100,000 in 2007. Approximately 93.8% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at stages III or IV, limiting treatment options and adversely affecting survival rates. This late detection contributes to high premature mortality rates, with lung cancer accounting for 14% of cancer deaths among men and 3.8% among women in Mongolia.


Contributing Factors: Environmental and Health Priorities

Several factors contribute to the high incidence and late detection of lung cancer:

  • Air Pollution: Ulaanbaatar is among the world's most polluted cities, primarily due to coal-burning stoves and emissions from coal-fired power plants.

  • Smoking Prevalence: Tobacco use remains a major risk factor, with 29.4% of the population reported as being smokers, although these rates have reduced slowly since 2010.

  • Competing Health Priorities: Mongolia's healthcare system faces multiple challenges, including a high burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The country has one of the highest TB incidence rates in the Western Pacific region, necessitating substantial resources for control and treatment programs. This focus on infectious diseases often understandably diverts attention and resources away from non-communicable diseases like cancer.


Economic Impact and Out-of-Pocket Expenditures

The financial burden of lung cancer on Mongolian households is considerable:

  • Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Expenditures: Despite a national health insurance scheme, OOP payments constitute a substantial portion of health expenditures. In 2014, OOP payments accounted for 42% of total health expenditures. High OOP costs deter individuals from seeking timely medical attention, particularly for diagnostic services like imaging and specialist consultations essential for early cancer detection.

  • Catastrophic Health Expenditure: A 2016 study revealed that approximately 1-5.5% of households faced catastrophic health expenditures. These financial barriers significantly impact healthcare access, leading to delayed diagnoses and treatment.



Health System Strengthening and Potential Solutions

Addressing the lung cancer burden in Mongolia requires comprehensive health system strengthening:

  • Enhancing Primary Care and Referral Systems: Strengthening the capacity of primary care providers to serve as effective gatekeepers is crucial. This includes training healthcare professionals to recognize early symptoms of lung cancer and establishing clear referral pathways to ensure timely specialist care.

  • Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs): Developing standardized protocols for lung cancer management can improve care coordination. For instance, Uzbekistan has focused on strengthening primary healthcare and improving the management of non-communicable diseases through standardized treatment protocols, which are foundational elements of ICPs. While Mongolia’s geography presents challenges, mobile health units and telemedicine could bridge gaps for rural populations.


Conclusion

Mongolia’s high cancer mortality rates, driven by late-stage diagnoses, require a dual approach of strengthening the healthcare system and expanding financial protection mechanisms. Strengthening primary care as the first point of contact, enhancing referral systems, and adopting integrated care pathways tailored to Mongolia’s geographical and resource challenges can improve care coordination and early detection. Expanding the scope of the national health insurance scheme to include comprehensive cancer care coverage would reduce out-of-pocket payments and the financial burden on households, increasing access to timely and effective treatment.

With the right investments in workforce development, infrastructure, and international collaborations such as the IAEA’s "Rays of Hope" initiative, Mongolia can reduce its cancer burden and improve outcomes for its population. A robust and equitable healthcare system is essential not only for tackling cancer but for ensuring broader health gains across the nation.

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