COSA's 51st Annual Scientific Meeting Bridging gaps, building progress, breaking down disparities 13-15 November 2024

Health inequities are associated with social, economic, and structural barriers to care and are observed across the cancer continuum. Although radiation therapy is a key pillar of cancer treatment, it is also an area with some of the largest disparities in access. This presentation will discuss the inequities in radiation oncology that are observed within and between countries, in both high-income and lowand middle-income country settings. These inequities are reflected in challenges in radiation availability and accessibility as well as patient acceptability and affordability of treatment. Beyond characterizing the problems, this talk will explore solutions to address the drivers of these inequities. These solutions include strategies to improve the diversity, cultural competency, and portability of the workforce, novel digital solutions that improve the ease of delivering high-quality care, and policy initiatives efforts at the local, national, and international level.