Open AccessThe Role of Affordable, Point-of-Care Technologies for Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review and Commentary
Author(s) -
Karen Haney,
Pushpa Tandon,
Rao Divi,
Miguel R. Ossandon,
Houston Baker,
Paul C. Pearlman
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ieee journal of translational engineering in health and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.653
H-Index - 24
ISSN - 2168-2372
DOI - 10.1109/jtehm.2017.2761764
Subject(s) - bioengineering , communication, networking and broadcast technologies , components, circuits, devices and systems , computing and processing , signal processing and analysis , robotics and control systems , general topics for engineers
As the burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer continues to rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), it is essential to identify and invest in promising solutions for cancer control and treatment. Point-of-care technologies (POCTs) have played critical roles in curbing infectious disease epidemics in both high- and low-income settings, and their successes can serve as a model for transforming cancer care in LMICs, where access to traditional clinical resources is often limited. The versatility, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity of POCTs warrant attention for their potential to revolutionize cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. This paper reviews the landscape of affordable POCTs for cancer care in LMICs with a focus on imaging tools, in vitro diagnostics, and treatment technologies and aspires to encourage innovation and further investment in this space.