There are huge deficits in global healthcare and cancer workforce that will not be closed without significant domestic resource mobilisation and a greater focus by the international financing community on healthcare labour workforce. The work of this Commission provides crucial intelligence to drive real policy change in the financing landscape.”
Richard Sullivan, Professor of Cancer and Global Health and Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy at King’s College London and Commission co-author
18 June 2026
Global cancer workforce shortage could reach 100 million by 2050, report warns
A new international report warns that global shortages in the cancer workforce could reach almost 100 million personnel by 2050, threatening progress in cancer care worldwide.
Published in The Lancet Oncology, the Commission report, predicts a 75 per cent increase in global cancer incidence by 2050, with more than 70 per cent of new cancer cases expected to occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the Commission, co-authored by Professor Richard Sullivan from King’s College London, highlights a major global shortage of trained cancer healthcare professionals and researchers as a key driver of inequalities in cancer survival between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Commission modelled the current and future global landscape of 17 common cancers alongside 18 different cancer workforce roles. The authors report that cancer incidence is projected to rise worldwide due to ageing populations, population growth and changing risk factors.
Currently, around one in three cancer cases globally remain undiagnosed, with more than 60 per cent of cancers in some parts of Africa going undetected. The report highlights that late diagnosis, limited access to treatment and shortages of skilled healthcare workers are contributing to poorer survival outcomes in many regions.
By 2050, cancer survival rates are projected to remain significantly lower in Africa and Asia than in high-income countries because of continuing workforce and healthcare system gaps.
The authors estimate that the global cancer workforce shortage could grow to almost 100 million personnel by 2050. The largest shortages are expected among nurses and diagnostic specialists such as radiologists and pathologists.
To address these issues, the Commission has identified seven key recommendations to strengthen the global cancer workforce, including ensuring every country has a National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) with a dedicated workforce strategy covering education, recruitment and retention. The report highlights the importance of investing in primary care and community healthcare workers to improve timely diagnosis and referral pathways.
The authors also highlight the growing role digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) could play in supporting cancer care. They suggest AI-enabled tools could help improve efficiency and quality of care, however, the Commission stresses that AI should support healthcare professionals rather than replace them, advocating for a “human-in-the-loop” approach with clinical oversight and accountability.
The report also calls for expanded population-based and hospital-based cancer registries to improve data collection on cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis and survival outcomes. The Commission notes that many countries currently lack reliable cancer data, making it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostics and early detection strategies.
The authors conclude that, while current trends point towards a worsening global crisis, action on the Commission’s recommendations could significantly improve the future outlook for global cancer care.
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Director, Institute of Cancer Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Conflict & Health Security