Amidst Disease and Destitution: The Profound Impact of the Economic Situation on Cancer Patients

Ahmed Bajoaim – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Our country is currently facing significant economic challenges that directly affect the most vulnerable groups in society, including cancer patients who suffer from the exorbitant costs of treatment amid the economic crisis. The ongoing conflict exacerbates the crisis, leading to a worsening economic situation due to rising unemployment rates, the collapse of the local currency, and soaring prices, including healthcare costs.

These factors have made it difficult to provide comprehensive healthcare for cancer patients; treatment has become expensive and complex due to the significant increase in the costs of essential medicines and treatments, in addition to limited access to hospitals and specialized services.

The current situation is increasing the suffering of cancer patients in Yemen; these patients require long and complex treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which require advanced medical capabilities not readily available during the crisis. The economic downturn has also led to a severe shortage of necessary medicines and medical equipment, forcing many patients to rely on humanitarian aid or seek treatment abroad, which places an additional burden on families already suffering from the effects of the crisis, such as loss of income and increased poverty due to the current crisis, which is considered one of the worst crises globally.

Poverty and Unemployment

Dr. Muhammad Al-Kasadi, an economic expert and head of the Department of Financial and Banking Sciences at Hadhramaut University, describes the economic situation in Yemen as having surpassed the catastrophic stage and reached extreme poverty; many citizens live without the most basic necessities of a decent life and struggle to secure their daily bread. In this context, the suffering of cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses becomes even more severe; they face significant difficulty in securing treatment, which is expensive due to the high prices of medicines and necessary therapeutic doses.

He pointed out that this segment of society suffers from indescribable living conditions; they find themselves unable to bear the costs of treatment, chemotherapy, and antibiotics amid the worsening unemployment crisis and rising poverty rates. As a result, he believes that Yemen’s economic situation is heading towards a much more dangerous precipice, and the repercussions of this deterioration will multiply if urgent measures are not taken to provide the necessary support for these vulnerable groups.

In the same context, Mustafa Nasr, an economic expert and head of the Center for Economic Studies and Media, explained that the economic situation in Yemen has reached a critical stage; the country is suffering from a deterioration in the local currency’s value, rising inflation rates, and a decline in per capita income, with unemployment affecting many citizens. These conditions have negatively affected all segments of society, especially cancer patients, who find themselves facing near-collapsed living challenges, in addition to the high costs of treatment; cancer has become widespread among segments of the local community, especially during this current phase, according to medical reports.

He pointed out that cancer has increased the burden on low-income families, who often have to exhaust their resources entirely to cover treatment costs. Statistics indicate that Yemenis spend approximately 47% of their family budget on treatments, especially if a family member has cancer. This tragic situation is due to the absence of health insurance and the lack of a social protection system that supports patients; they lack health coverage to alleviate the financial burden, especially for low-income groups or families suffering from extreme poverty.

The Economy and Cancer

Dr. Muhammad Al-Kasadi believes that the deterioration of the economic situation has significantly and negatively impacted the lives of ordinary citizens in Yemen; citizens have become unable to provide for their basic needs and maintain them. This has been accompanied by a decline in social solidarity, increasing the suffering of cancer patients’ families, who find themselves caught between the dilemma of securing daily food, on the one hand, and the expensive costs of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, on the other.

He pointed out that the economic crisis not only affects the living situation but also leads to increased crime rates and family breakdown, exacerbating social challenges even for families not suffering from chronic illnesses. For families with a member suffering from cancer, the tragedy is even more severe; they find it extremely difficult to cover the increasing treatment costs.

Al-Kasadi added that current events in many Arab countries could lead to a decrease in international support from organizations and donor agencies that previously assisted in the health sector in Yemen, especially for cancer patients. This potential decrease in support would be a double catastrophe for patients, making their health situation more complex and posing an additional challenge to the international community and humanitarian organizations to meet the needs of these affected groups.

Mustafa Nasr confirmed that years of armed conflict in Yemen have caused profound economic repercussions. The local currency has lost approximately 800% of its value, negatively impacting all segments of society, including patients facing increasing financial burdens to secure healthcare. Cancer treatment costs have become exorbitant. Without social safety nets and the charitable contributions of private sector individuals and organizations that alleviate patients’ suffering, the situation would be catastrophic; most cancer patients might lose their lives due to their difficult economic circumstances.

He explained that state institutions have not played the required role in establishing systems capable of alleviating the suffering of cancer patients or studying the reasons for the disease’s spread and addressing it in recent years. The economic deterioration and the collapse of the local currency have led to the spread of famine, poverty, and malnutrition, negatively impacting public health in Yemen. Malnutrition is a risk factor for cancer, especially among children and women, adding a new health dimension to the economic crisis.

The High Cost of Chemotherapy

Cancer patients in Yemen face significant financial challenges covering chemotherapy costs, a fundamental treatment for combating the disease. According to chemotherapy specialists at the National Cancer Treatment Center in Hadhramaut Governorate, the prices of doses vary depending on the type of cancer and the patient’s response. Some doses can cost up to $2,500 (approximately five million Yemeni Riyals) per dose—an amount exceeding the capacity of most patients under the current economic conditions.

The specialists added that there are less expensive doses, ranging from $1,000 to 500 or less, but they remain beyond the reach of most patients, especially since the average government employee’s salary does not exceed $30 per month due to the collapse of the local currency.

However, the National Cancer Treatment Center in Hadhramaut, with support from the Ministry of Health, international organizations, and contributions from businessmen, strives to provide these doses free of charge to patients, alleviating the financial burden on patients and their families. These efforts are vital support under difficult economic conditions, providing essential treatment for many patients who cannot afford the exorbitant costs of chemotherapy.

The economic situation in Yemen presents a real challenge for cancer patients and their families; it adds enormous financial burdens to the daily health challenges they face. With the ongoing economic crisis and rising treatment costs, intervention from international and institutional support organizations is essential to provide the necessary support for these patients. Such interventions not only alleviate financial burdens but also make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families, representing a humanitarian gesture towards a society exhausted by conflict, and fostering solidarity and hope amidst difficult circumstances.

The continued support of international organizations, civil society organizations, and benefactors significantly contributes to providing essential treatments and health services for cancer patients, highlighting the importance of collective action in confronting these humanitarian crises.