Employers with international workforces are being urged to reassess how they support employees facing cancer, as disparities in screening, diagnosis and treatment continue to widen across different countries.
On World Cancer Day on 4 February, workplace health experts have warned that while advances in cancer care are improving outcomes in many regions, access to these services remains inconsistent worldwide. Without intervention, employees in some countries could face significantly poorer care than their colleagues elsewhere.
Gaps in Screening and Diagnosis
Cancer cases are predicted to rise sharply in the coming decades, with the World Health Organisation projecting a 77% increase in new diagnoses by 2050. At the same time, survival rates are improving in many countries, due in part to expanded screening programmes and earlier detection. However, access to screening varies widely.
Some nations, including the UK, offer national cancer screening programmes, but provision is inconsistent. For example, cervical cancer screening is available in Albania, Singapore, Rwanda, Qatar and Kenya, but not in Tanzania or Pakistan. Employers with staff deployed across different regions need to be aware of these differences to ensure their employees are not left without essential healthcare access.
Sarah Dennis of Towergate Employee Benefits, a UK employee benefits adviser, said companies needed to ensure their staff had access to to necessary healthcare wherever they were in the world.
“There are different approaches to cancer care around the world, and employers need to be aware of these,” she said. “Some countries have much more advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment. Employers must consider what level of care their employees might receive, or expect, depending upon where they are deployed and make sure this addresses any disparities from country to country.”
Balancing Cancer Risk and Mortality
Cancer risks and survival rates also differ significantly by region. While Australia and New Zealand report the highest cancer incidence rates, it is not reflected in mortality rates, which remain relatively low. In contrast, Polynesia has a far lower incidence rate but the highest cancer mortality rate in the world.
Given this variation, employers are being advised to assess both the likelihood of employees developing cancer and the standard of care available in different locations. Without this, companies risk offering inadequate — or even excessive — coverage depending on the country.
Mental Health and Holistic Support
Cancer is one of the most common reasons employees turn to private medical care, and global employers are being urged to ensure that workplace benefits reflect both medical and mental health needs.
For employees working overseas, the emotional and logistical challenges of managing cancer can be heightened by the absence of family or community support. Employers are encouraged to consider holistic care approaches that include mental wellbeing support, particularly for employees navigating treatment in unfamiliar healthcare systems.
“The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day is ‘United by Unique’, and this epitomises our message,” said Dennis. “Employers with a workforce across the world must provide support that reflects the unique risks faced by each individual employee and the unique circumstances of each country’s approach to diagnosis and treatment.”
World Cancer Day aims to raise awareness of global cancer challenges while encouraging action to improve care.