Summary: 

Cancer control, access and inequality in Latin America: A tale of light and shadow is an Economist Intelligence Unit report, commissioned by Roche, which examines cancer-control efforts in Latin America. It looks in detail at both the bright spots and the ongoing gaps for Latin American governments as they wrestle with cancer and seek to provide accessible prevention and care to their populations. Its particular focus is on 12 countries in Central and South America chosen for various factors, including size and level of economic development: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. This study also introduces a major tool for stakeholders seeking to understand this field: the Latin America Cancer Control Scorecard (LACCS). The LACCS relies on significant desk research to rank the 12 study countries on their performance in different areas of direct relevance to cancer-control access. In addition to the scorecard, this report also draws on its own, separate substantial research as well as 20 interviews with experts on cancer in the region and worldwide.