Assessing the Economic Feasibility and Social Impact of Proton Therapy Implementation in Mexico and Latin America.

Abstract

Proton therapy can reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissues, but its high capital cost and operational complexity have limited access in Latin America. This exploratory cross-sectional study combined an environmental and market scan with semi-structured interviews of 54 insured adults with cancer from eight countries in the Americas. We examined awareness of proton therapy, treatment decision-making, perceived benefits and barriers, and willingness to receive treatment at a proposed center in Mexico. Prior awareness of proton therapy was very low (3.7%), although 70.4% of participants expressed interest in new cancer therapies and 55.6% preferred shared treatment decisions with their physician. After receiving a standardized explanation of proton therapy, 40.7% expressed interest in treatment; additional participants reported conditional interest related to insurance coverage, affordability, physician recommendation, treatment effectiveness, or further information. Travel was the most frequently perceived disadvantage. These findings indicate social interest in a regional proton therapy service but do not establish economic viability. A center in Mexico could reduce cross-border travel and support regional clinical training and research, particularly for patients with indications likely to benefit from proton therapy. However, implementation should be phased and accompanied by a formal needs assessment, clinical eligibility modeling, payer engagement, workforce development, and a country-specific cost-effectiveness and budget-impact analysis.