Barriers to accessing high-quality cancer medicines in Cameroon. A qualitative study of the views and practices of regulators and frontline healthcare providers

Cancer has become a major public health problem in Cameroon. In 2020, 20,000 new cases and 14,000 deaths were registered. Despite its high burden, access to quality medications for this condition continues to be a persistent challenge in the country. This study assessed the perceptions and practices of key stakeholders on barriers to accessing quality anticancer medicines in Cameroon. The overall goal was to generate data on key challenges related to the quality of anticancer medications and their impact on cancer care and treatment in Cameroon. This is to inform policy and interventions aimed at addressing the problem. In a cross-sectional qualitative study, a document review of key reports and documents, and 57 stakeholders were purposively identified and interviewed. The choice of these respondents was informed by their engagements in one of the areas of the chemotherapy supply chain in Cameroon, including regulation, procurement, quality control, and use. Data from document notes and interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach. Several factors were identified as affecting the quality of chemotherapy medications, including weak regulatory systems, inadequate funding for regulatory activities, and a lack of core competencies among staff responsible for regulatory functions. Other factors included the high cost of anticancer medications, which influenced accessibility to quality products, as well as the quality of care offered to patients who could not afford high-priced products. These weaknesses, coupled with a lack of point-of-care tools, appear to encourage the proliferation of substandard medicines in our setting and the use of substandard therapies or protocols to treat patients. Our study sheds light on the multifaceted problems that plague Cameroon’s chemotherapy supply chain and how these impact access to optimal care and treatment for cancer patients. Urgent actions are needed to enhance the regulatory landscape and improve the affordability of quality anticancer medications in Cameroon.