Uganda must invest in the future of cancer treatment

What the report says

The Observer argues that Uganda needs to prepare now for newer cancer treatments as the country continues to face a heavy disease burden. Citing figures attributed to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, the article says Uganda had an estimated 29,966 new cancer cases and 18,205 cancer deaths in 2024. It says those numbers reflect not only medical losses but also the emotional and financial strain on families.

The piece uses histotripsy, a non-invasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound to destroy selected tumours, as an example of the kind of innovation Uganda should study more closely. It notes that the technology was authorized in the United States in 2023 for liver tumours and that early trial results showed technical success in 42 of 44 patients in the HOPE4LIVER studies. The article also stresses that technical success is not the same as a cure and that longer-term outcomes still need to be assessed.

The Observer says the Uganda Cancer Institute should take a leading role in evaluating emerging technologies, building research partnerships and helping decide which advances are suitable for local patients. It also calls for government spending on specialist training, diagnostics, maintenance and broader cancer infrastructure. At the same time, it warns that new technology should not divert attention from prevention, early detection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

The article’s broader point is about access and fairness: even if promising treatments arrive, they should not be limited to wealthy patients in private care. It frames the issue as one of public planning, research and health-system readiness rather than simple enthusiasm for expensive innovation.