The oncology workforce risks becoming one of the greatest vulnerabilities of medical systems globally, warns an international report by The Lancet Oncology Commission and presented at the ASCO 2026 meeting in Chicago.
The report shows that the increasing number of cancer cases is not accompanied by a proportional increase in medical and research personnel, which could lead to a deficit of almost 100 million professionals by 2050, according to News.ro.
The analysis predicts that shortages will affect all levels involved in oncology, from diagnosis and treatment to regulatory activities, funding and community support. The Lancet Oncology predicts the biggest shortages of specialist medical staff in Africa and Asia, where tens of millions of workers could be missing, but the report stresses that no region will be spared.
Low- and middle-income countries are already facing the migration of skilled personnel, while developed states are struggling with burnout, depression and budget constraints.
The greatest pressures will appear in the area of primary health care and diagnostic services, the report warns. By 2050, more than 65 million additional nurses and approximately 16 million imaging and pathology specialists may be needed.
Strategies adapted to each country are needed
Dr. Hedvig Hricak, co-chair of the Commission, points out that “our global initiative sends a clear warning: without urgent action to address critical staffing shortages, we risk facing an unprecedented cancer crisis”, underlining the need for strategies adapted to each country, a more efficient use of existing resources, the redistribution of tasks between professions and the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in medical processes.
The report warns that staff shortages not only affect the present, but also the world’s ability to produce relevant research in the future. Advances in oncology depend on teams able to generate ideas, develop studies and translate results into effective policy.
Cancer is described in the document as a “silent pandemic”. The number of cases diagnosed annually could reach 35.3 million in 2050, compared to 20 million in 2022, and deaths could exceed 18.5 million per year. About 70% of new cases will occur in low- and middle-income countries, precisely the regions that will feel the most acute staff shortages.
The Global Cancer Workforce model used for the analysis assessed the evolution of 17 cancer types and 18 occupational categories in 200 countries and territories. The findings are worrying, says Mark Lawler, co-author of the report, who points out that “these results are worrying. The estimated increase to 35 million cancer cases worldwide annually stands in stark contrast to the projected global shortfall of 100 million cancer care workers by 2050.”.
The authors believe that understanding these trends is essential for the planning of health services and the efficient allocation of resources, in a context where lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer will remain the most common forms of the disease globally.
