S1420
Interdisciplinary - Health economics & health services research
ESTRO 2026
Results: Median waiting time decreased from 45 days (IQR 30– 70) to 18 days (IQR 10–32). Monthly RT courses increased from 180 to 240 (+33%). Hypofractionation uptake rose from 22% to 58% of eligible cases, reducing total machine-fraction demand by 28%. Machine utilization improved, with fewer idle hours and a 12% reduction in no-shows. Early toxicity rates and treatment completion remained unchanged. Conclusion: RORSM proved feasible and effective for optimizing RT delivery in a resource-limited low and middle income countries (LMIC) setting. Through structured prioritization and evidence-based hypofractionation, the model significantly reduced waiting times and improved throughput without compromising safety. Institutional success supports potential national adoption to enhance equitable RT access in Bangladesh and other LMICs. References: Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2024 May;74(3):229- 63.Huq MS, Acharya SC, Sapkota S, Silwal SR, Gautam M, Sharma S, Poudyal S, Sumon MA, Hossain T, Uddin AK, Gunasekara S. Cancer education and training within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. The Lancet Oncology. 2024 Dec 1;25(12):e663-74. Keywords: Wait time reduction, Resource optimization Mapping the Canadian Oncology Workforce: Trends, Challenges, and Systemic Pressures Zejia Chen 1 , Luis F Leiva Tobelem 2 , Samara Saory D dos Santos 3 , Fabio Y Moraes 4 1 Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. 2 Department of Anesthesia, Alava Universitary Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. 3 Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada Digital Poster 3592 Purpose/Objective: Canada faces a rising cancer incidence alongside an aging oncology workforce. We reviewed and quantified trends in workforce supply, distribution, training capacity, and burnout in medical oncology (MO) and radiation oncology (RO) and identified system levers relevant to access and sustainability. Material/Methods: We conducted a scoping review of Canadian literature
(MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science; 1994-2025) and grey literature (national/provincial workforce reports; CIHI and Statistics Canada datasets). Two reviewers independently screened and charted data per PRISMA- ScR guidance; protocol preregistered on Open Science Framework (OSF.IO/GJMQ9). Primary outcomes were specialist density (per 100,000 population), incident cancer cases per MO/RO, age distribution ( ≥ 50 years), and burnout (Maslach criteria). We performed secondary linear regressions on national time-series data to estimate annual change in workforce density (headcount; sensitivity FTE where available). Results: Seventy-eight sources met inclusion. MO density increased from 1.41 to 1.82 per 100,000 (1994-2017), and RO from 1.31 to 1.53 per 100,000 (2010-2023). Incident cases per specialist declined from 581 to 347 for MO (1994-2017) and from 420 to 390 for RO (2010- 2023). Forty-two percent of ROs and 40% of MOs were aged ≥ 50, indicating substantial retirement risk. Burnout meeting Maslach criteria was reported in ~56% of oncologists, with >50% reporting intent to retire or reduce hours within 5 years. Persistent supply shortfalls were observed in Prairie and Atlantic provinces and in rural/remote settings; provincial oncologist densities were reduced by up to ~2-fold in these settings. Interventions including community paramedicine, General Practitioners in Oncology models, and salaried remuneration were associated with improved recruitment/retention and access in descriptive evaluations. Commonly cited barriers included training capacity limitations, geographic maldistribution, and administrative burden. Conclusion: Canada’s oncology workforce has grown but remains mismatched to rising demand, with pronounced regional inequities, high burnout, and an aging workforce placing additional strain. Coordinated national planning—expanding training capacity, addressing maldistribution, and reducing non-clinical burden—will be essential to sustain equitable cancer care access. Keywords: oncology workforce, Canada, workforce planning
Digital Poster 3743
Paediatric Radiotherapy in Latin America and the Caribbean: a survey of practice patterns, barriers and educational and professional challenges MICHAEL J CHEN 1,2 , Chia-ho Hua 3 , Prospero G Andre 4,5 , Fernanda S Belletti 6 , Maria Luisa S Figueiredo 2,6 , Rafael L Oliveira 2 , Lisbeth Cordero Mendez 1 , Graciela Velez 1 , Daniel Berger 1 , Natalia M Pinto 7 , David A Asaf 7 , Mauro
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online