Improving Access to Radiotherapy: Exploring Structural Quality Indicators for Radiotherapy in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Abstract

Background: Radiotherapy is a critical component of effective cancer treatment, yet access remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. This study explores structural quality indicators influencing radiotherapy access in Gauteng province, a region with a dual public-private healthcare system.

Methods: A concurrent triangulation mixed-methods approach using a descriptive cross-sectional study was employed; for the quantitative phase, data from public and private radiotherapy facilities was analysed, and for the qualitative phase, insights were obtained from interviews with the heads of departments and members of three multidisciplinary professions in radiation oncology, namely radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, and medical physicists.

Results: Findings reveal stark disparities in radiotherapy access. Gauteng province has only two major public radiotherapy facilities serving a large population, while multiple private facilities exist. The data indicate substantial differences in resource distribution, equipment accessibility, and personnel levels between public and private institutions. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, personnel shortages, and operational limitations in the public sector have surfaced as significant barriers to prompt equitable access to radiotherapy. This research shows the urgent need for focused strategies to address these systemic issues in order to improve access to radiation treatment in Gauteng province. The study's findings will inform the development of a comprehensive framework to enhance radiotherapy access and contribute to more equitable cancer care delivery in South Africa.