Cancer is the third cause of death in Mexico.
Highlights:
- Adela Ayensa, executive director of Fundación Salvati, emphasizes the ongoing effort to promote the General Cancer Law in Mexico, stressing the importance of patient voices in decision-making.
- Despite presenting the bill on October 11, 2023, there has been no political will to advance it.
- Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Mexico, with the proposed law aiming to ensure access to treatments, palliative care, and rehabilitation, while preventing financial ruin for patients seeking medical care.
- The implementation of a National Cancer Registry is crucial for effective planning and strategy, with Adela calling for unified statistics across all institutions and regions to address the diverse needs of cancer patients throughout Mexico.
“We are not going to stop. We have been working for two years, and we will continue,” insists Adela Ayensa, executive director of Fundación Salvati, one of the 13 organizations promoting the General Cancer Law in Mexico. “We have to stop seeing people as numbers. We listen to patients and take their voices to decision makers.“
We are not going to stop. We have been working for two years, and we will continue.
Adela Ayensa
On October 11, 2023, the bill was presented, and after more than six months, there was no political will. Meanwhile, social inequality in terms of access and compliance with the right to health in Mexico continued to grow. “We saw interest in all political parties. But they didn’t understand that no budget was required. The budget will be required progressively,” she says. It takes relevance when other countries in Latin America are already implementing initiatives to reduce the burden of these diseases. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru, Guatemala, and Brazil already have national cancer laws. Mexico was left behind. “We will continue fighting. We need a law that stays! We already sent letters to the candidates. It is a perfect political moment.”
We will continue fighting. We need a law that stays! We already sent letters to the candidates. It is a perfect political moment.
Adela Ayensa
Adela has been working to improve the attention and quality of life of people living with cancer for many years. In the clinic that the Fundación Salvati has, she sees stories that remind her of the importance of her work. Patients come full of fear and pain. On many occasions, with sequelae of cancer or radiotherapy. After receiving their treatment, I have seen patients improve. “Seeing that they can remain productive … I see change daily.”
In Mexico, cancer is the third cause of death, according to the INEGI, and is a catastrophic disease with a high cost. “No one should lose their home to have decent care,” explains Adela. Among so many points, the General Cancer Law wants to ensure that all patients have access to treatments for any type of cancer. It also seeks to guarantee access to palliative and rehabilitation care. “It is expected that all people have access to oncological clinics throughout the country to prevent them from having to relocate,” she emphasizes.
No one must lose their home to have decent attention.
Adela Ayensa
The implementation of the National Cancer Registry, as promised in 2018, is urgent. Not having comprehensive data makes planning programs that attend to reality challenging. These data help not only to count, but also to diagnose the problem and measure the success of the strategies implemented. “Statistics must be of all institutions. They must be unified.” Each region in Mexico has different needs and strategies. In the north, for example, lung cancer is more prevalent due to the culture of roasts. On the other hand, primary care health professionals need to be trained. It is crucial to continue developing preventive strategies, such as campaigns and sieves, to detect early-stage cancers.
Statistics must be of all institutions. It must be unified.
Adela Ayensa
The worldwide trend is to reverse the consequences of cancer diseases. Many of these diseases are preventable and treatable. Latin America is already legislating in this regard. What about Mexico? “Let’s think about the welfare of the country. It is a law that is needed. Health can be lost, and we are all potential patients. It is better to be protected,” concludes Adela Ayensa.
