OVERVIEW OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF CANCER IN THE MAGHREB
Author(s)
Samy Bekrar, MSc1, Meriem Hedibel, Dr1, Lina Rezaig, MSc2, Mohamed Aimene Melzi, Dr3, Adda Bounedjar, Pr3;
1ES Clinical Research, Clinical Operation, Algiers, Algeria, 2Sensya Pharma Care, Medical Affairs, Algiers, Algeria, 3Anti-Cancer Center, Blida, Medical Oncology Department, Blida, Algeria
1ES Clinical Research, Clinical Operation, Algiers, Algeria, 2Sensya Pharma Care, Medical Affairs, Algiers, Algeria, 3Anti-Cancer Center, Blida, Medical Oncology Department, Blida, Algeria
OBJECTIVES: This overview is to provides recent epidemiological patterns and economic indicators of cancer burden in the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia).
METHODS: This comprehensive analysis involved pooling data from various sources, including GLOBOCAN 2022 and recent national cancer registry data from the three countries. The economic burden was assessed using published 2019 societal cost-of-illness estimates from a multi-country study in the region.
RESULTS: In 2022, the Maghreb region reported 148,873 new cancer cases: 20,551 in Tunisia, 63,609 in Morocco and 64,713 in Algeria. The age standardized incidence rates (ASIR) per 100,000 were 135.4 in Tunisia, 141.2 in Algeria, and 149.8 in Morocco, while the age standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were lowest in Algeria at 77.7, with 80.2 in Tunisia and 85.9 in Morocco. The 5-year prevalence reached 384,000 cases, with 177,718 in Algeria, 154,884 in Morocco, and 51,348 in Tunisia. Breast cancer led among women, representing 31.0% of female cancers in Tunisia, 38.8% in Morocco and 41.3% in Algeria. Lung cancer predominated in men, comprising 14.7% of male cancers in Algeria, 24.0% in Tunisia, and 25.6% in Morocco. Colorectal cancer ranks among the top three cancers in both sexes. The societal cost of cancer was estimated at US$565 million in Algeria and US$573 million in Morocco (US$13 and US$16 per capita and 0.3% and 0.5% of GDP, respectively). In Algeria, direct costs exceeded indirect costs (US$9 vs US$4 per capita), whereas in Morocco, indirect costs (US$10 per capita) surpassed direct costs (US$5 per capita), highlighting the impact of productivity losses. Currently, no comparable cost of illness estimates are available for Tunisia.
CONCLUSIONS: Maghreb countries face a rising cancer burden within the constraints of limited healthcare budgets. Increasing public investment in cancer care, strengthening registries, and using economic data to estimate societal costs are essential to support priorities and reduce mortality and economic burden.
METHODS: This comprehensive analysis involved pooling data from various sources, including GLOBOCAN 2022 and recent national cancer registry data from the three countries. The economic burden was assessed using published 2019 societal cost-of-illness estimates from a multi-country study in the region.
RESULTS: In 2022, the Maghreb region reported 148,873 new cancer cases: 20,551 in Tunisia, 63,609 in Morocco and 64,713 in Algeria. The age standardized incidence rates (ASIR) per 100,000 were 135.4 in Tunisia, 141.2 in Algeria, and 149.8 in Morocco, while the age standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were lowest in Algeria at 77.7, with 80.2 in Tunisia and 85.9 in Morocco. The 5-year prevalence reached 384,000 cases, with 177,718 in Algeria, 154,884 in Morocco, and 51,348 in Tunisia. Breast cancer led among women, representing 31.0% of female cancers in Tunisia, 38.8% in Morocco and 41.3% in Algeria. Lung cancer predominated in men, comprising 14.7% of male cancers in Algeria, 24.0% in Tunisia, and 25.6% in Morocco. Colorectal cancer ranks among the top three cancers in both sexes. The societal cost of cancer was estimated at US$565 million in Algeria and US$573 million in Morocco (US$13 and US$16 per capita and 0.3% and 0.5% of GDP, respectively). In Algeria, direct costs exceeded indirect costs (US$9 vs US$4 per capita), whereas in Morocco, indirect costs (US$10 per capita) surpassed direct costs (US$5 per capita), highlighting the impact of productivity losses. Currently, no comparable cost of illness estimates are available for Tunisia.
CONCLUSIONS: Maghreb countries face a rising cancer burden within the constraints of limited healthcare budgets. Increasing public investment in cancer care, strengthening registries, and using economic data to estimate societal costs are essential to support priorities and reduce mortality and economic burden.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH73
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Oncology