King's College London

A team of researchers from King’s College London has joined international experts in urging a rethink of how cancer care is delivered worldwide.

Their commentary, published in BMJ Global Health, argues that the field of Global Oncology must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and embrace local perspectives.

Global Oncology has made significant strides in addressing disparities in cancer prevention and treatment, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries.

 However, the authors highlight persistent challenges, including the dominance of Global North institutions in setting agendas and the imposition of standards that often fail to align with local realities.

Dr Jennifer Fraser, also from King’s, added: “The current model assumes that divides can be closed simply by exporting technologies and standards from the North to the South. This overlooks the complex dynamics of inequality as well as the innovative practices taking place within Southern contexts and outside of dominant Western paradigms."

The paper draws on discussions from a workshop at the Brocher Foundation in Switzerland, which brought together social scientists, clinicians and policymakers. It calls for ‘provincialising’ Global Oncology – situating cancer care within specific contexts rather than treating it as a universal model.

“Provincialising is about recognising that there is no single global oncology,” said Dr Cochrane “Instead, we need plural oncologies that reflect diverse infrastructures, priorities and cultural understandings of care.”

The authors point to emerging South-to-South collaborations as promising examples of locally driven innovation. By reimagining Global Oncology in this way, they argue, the field can better address inequalities and deliver care that is both effective and equitable.

Read more:

Surawy Stepney N, Bhangu S, Llewellyn H, Fraser J, Cochrane T, Jagessar P, et al. Provincialising Global Oncology. BMJ Global Health. 2025;10:e019950. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019950