Radiotherapy services in countries in transition: gross national income per capita as a significant factor.

摘要

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The acquisition of radiotherapy by countries in transition (CITs) is an evolutionary process from having no resources whatsoever, to meeting the standards adopted by well-developed countries. The influence of the economic ability of a country to acquire and sustain this technology has intuitively been accepted as a major factor but has not before been subjected to analysis for a large group of countries. This information has been analysed to provide guidance to countries commencing and expanding radiotherapy services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of linear accelerators and (60)Co megavoltage teletherapy machines in 72 CITs, those with gross national income per capita (GNI/cap)<