Billy Ntaote
Lesotho cancer patients’ dependence on South African oncology services in Bloemfontein has brought a huge financial burden to the country’s health budget and created a dire need for oncology services to be provided locally.
On February 5, during a celebration of Cancer Day—celebrated on February 4th internationally—Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane said Lesotho pays M250 000 per patient for treatment in Bloemfontein for various cancer treatments that include radiotherapy.
MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism has learned that due to increasing cancer patients’ diagnosis the country is no longer able to sustain cancer patients’ treatment debt with South African hospitals that in 2024 stood at M148 million.
Health Principal Secretary Maneo Ntene in an affidavit deposed in June 2024 told the High Court when pleading for the cancer treatment facility tender dispute to be disposed of urgently about the soaring number of cancer cases number and their unsustainable treatment costs.
She said in the year 2022 there were 606 new cancer cases, and in the year 2023, 647 new patients were recorded and added that in 2024, as of the last week of May, there were already 361 patients recorded.
“In each cohort of patients, 60% of the patients need radiation therapy which Lesotho does not have as the Radiotherapy facility has not yet been constructed.
“As of 2021, the trained human resources completed their training but there is no Radiotherapy facility constructed as yet. If these resources stay redundant for long, the country will lose them.
“40% of patients come to the facilities at a very late stage of cancer due to a lack of awareness and early detection.
“80% of patients referred for treatment in a foreign land are unable to get early treatment because the foreign countries are also overwhelmed and are battling with their own increasing cancer patient burdens. Lesotho patients are delayed in getting the required early treatment,” said Ntene.
Ntene said Lesotho has a high cancer patient mortality rate due to cancer which is diagnosed but not treated at earlier stages because Lesotho does not have her treatment facility.
“We are limited to research to discover the causes of the ailment and ways to combat or prevent the disease.
“The country is no longer able to sustain a cancer patient treatment debt. The debt is currently standing at M 148 Million debt and it is escalating. We have also defaulted in payment of this debt,” said Ntene.
Senkatana Oncology Clinic is the only oncology clinic located at the Botshabelo complex in Maseru and serves the whole cancer population of Lesotho.
Senkatana Oncology Clinic was established through the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Global Cancer Disparities (BMSF-GCD) (Africa) funding in 2020 as the first Lesotho cancer treatment center.
Beyond the care provided at Senkatana, more complex treatments require patients to be transported to Bloemfontein where they receive oncology services.
According to an article published in the SA Journal of Oncology, titled Quantitative exploration of barriers to access cancer services experienced by cancer patients in Lesotho.
In 2022, the incidence of cancer in Lesotho was 2027 cases, and the number of cancer deaths was 1411.
The article said the top three leading cancers in Lesotho are cancers of the cervix, breast, and prostate. The incidence of cancer of the cervix, breast, and prostate are at 25.3 percent, 8.1 percent, and 7.3 percent, respectively. Mortality rates of cervical cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer are at 25.9 percent, 6.5 percent, and 7.6 percent, respectively.
