Access to rheumatologic care in tropical regions: Barriers and solutions

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Mar 4:102052. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2025.102052. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Due to systemic, cultural, and economic barriers, tropical regions face unique challenges in delivering rheumatologic care. This review outlines key obstacles such as disjointed healthcare systems, shortage of trained manpower in rheumatology, limited diagnostic tools, treatment barriers, lack of multidisciplinary care and cultural barriers in tropical countries. These barriers lead to delays in diagnosis, disease progression, disability, and poor quality of life. This chapter discusses actionable solutions such as building healthcare infrastructure, healthcare policy changes, expanding rheumatology training programs, leveraging telemedicine, and fostering community-driven awareness initiatives with examples. By tackling these challenges directly, access to rheumatologic care can be improved, making it more widely available to people, regardless of their location within tropical countries.

PMID:40044539 | DOI:10.1016/j.berh.2025.102052