Strategies to overcome barriers in access to cancer treatment in Latin America: a regional perspective.

Access to high-quality cancer care remains a major challenge across Latin America, particularly for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Despite major advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, molecular testing, and treatment, substantial disparities persist in access to timely and appropriate care throughout the region. This narrative review examines the multidimensional nature of access in GI oncology, encompassing availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and quality. We analyze the principal barriers affecting cancer care delivery in Latin America, including economic constraints, geographic disparities, fragmented health systems, sociocultural determinants, limited access to precision oncology, and regulatory challenges. We further explore how these barriers contribute to delayed diagnosis, advanced-stage presentation, treatment interruptions, reduced access to biomarker testing and innovative therapies, and ultimately poorer clinical outcomes. The review highlights evidence-informed strategies that have demonstrated potential to improve access, including National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs), organized colorectal cancer screening programs, patient navigation initiatives, multidisciplinary care models, virtual tumor boards, teleoncology, digital health solutions, and artificial intelligence-enabled interventions. Particular attention is given to equity-focused approaches addressing the needs of women, rural populations, indigenous communities, migrants, and young adults affected by early-onset GI cancers. Improving access to GI cancer care requires coordinated action across policy, health system, institutional, and community levels. Strengthening governance through NCCPs, expanding precision oncology infrastructure, leveraging digital innovation, and implementing robust monitoring frameworks are critical to reducing disparities. Lessons learned from Latin America may provide valuable insights for other low- and middle-income settings seeking to translate scientific advances into equitable cancer outcomes.