Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42321892›Full record

ReviewConflict and health2026

Cancer care in conflict-affected regions: a scoping review of service delivery challenges, healthcare system adaptations, and policy implications.

Omar Al-Qaisi, Shend Kryeziu, Lorent Sijarina, Patricia Tai, Melisa Stublla, Edward Yu, Maha Subih, Mohammed Dibas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Conflict and health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Omar Al-QaisiNursing Department, Al-Zaytoonah University, Airport Street, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-9760-651X
Shend KryeziuFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, 10000, Kosovo.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-0744-910X
Lorent SijarinaFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, 10000, Kosovo.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-9309-9959
Patricia TaiDepartment of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-776X
Melisa StubllaFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, 10000, Kosovo.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-4880-1838
Edward YuDepartment of Oncology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2900-115X
Maha SubihNursing Department, Al-Zaytoonah University, Airport Street, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4789-4518
Mohammed DibasDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, P400, Palestine. mohd.dibas@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-7324-264X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundArmed conflicts severely disrupt cancer care delivery, destroying infrastructure and limiting access to essential diagnostics and treatments. Evidence on service challenges, adaptations, and policy implications remains fragmented.

methodsThis scoping review of four databases (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL) was conducted for original peer-reviewed studies published between January 2020 and August 2025. The search focused on the effect of wars on cancer service delivery in conflict zones, and its impact on cancer care.

resultsWars in conflict-affected countries like Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, and Afghanistan caused widespread destruction of cancer infrastructure, unsafe hospitals, and interruptions in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Countries faced shortages of specialized centers, technicians/radiologists, and medical records, alongside high costs and supply chain disruptions. Despite these challenges, healthcare systems demonstrated resilience through adaptations including Ukraine's MedEvac program for EU treatment evacuation, cross-border referrals (Iraq→Lebanon, Afghanistan→Pakistan), telemedicine, mobile diagnostic units, and community-based care models. Policy responses emphasized international aid coordination, conflict-sensitive health planning, and supply chain restoration.

conclusionConflicts cause infrastructure destruction, workforce depletion/migration, treatment barriers/delays, drug supply disruptions, and psychosocial/economic impacts, which in turn create urgent policy/governance challenges. Although humanitarian aid may provide temporary relief, sustainable solutions require peace and global commitment, grounded in equity and the fundamental right to health.

Indexed as

CancerConflictConflict-affected settingsHealthcareHumanitarian healthOncologyWar

Identifiers

PMID42321892
PMCPMC13479888

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.