Steve Biko Academic Hospital leads in cancer treatment, but access remains a challenge in South Africa

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi noted that the hospital's nuclear medicine facility, led by Prof Mike Sathekge, is globally recognized for treating prostate and breast cancer, with private hospitals and even European facilities referring patients. Cancer activist Salomé Meyer highlighted that this internationally recognized center provides access to advanced nuclear medicine technologies and therapies not widely available elsewhere. Meyer emphasized that the South African public health sector leads in several highly specialized technologies, which require substantial capital, expertise, and sustained public funding.

She stated that the real challenge is not the quality of specialist cancer care in the public sector, but rather access to it. Meyer pointed out that the public health system serves approximately 86% of the population with only 11 dedicated radiation oncology centers, while the private sector serves about 14% of the population but has access to roughly 80% of the country's oncology specialists and advanced equipment. Challenges include timely diagnosis, referral pathways, workforce shortages, long waiting lists, and treatment delays.

Trudy Khumalo from Women Against Cancer added that while the public sector has specialized facilities, this does not guarantee quality service for every patient, citing st