Breast cancer care in Sri Lanka: A review of breast clinic development, system gaps and future directions

Abstract

One-Stop Breast Clinics (OSBCs) have emerged as a model of rapid diagnosis and streamlined care, enabling breast cancer patients to undergo assessment, diagnosis, and overview of treatment planning within a single day. This literature review examined the current implementation of breast clinics in Sri Lanka, analysing their growth, effectiveness, patient outcomes, and operational challenges. Well women clinics, cancer early detection centres, hospital based specialised breast clinics were identified as existing facilities catering specialised breast care services.  Existing literature underscores the potential benefits of specialised breast clinics in improving timely access to breast cancer care in Sri Lankan population while highlighting, poor progression of services, resource constraints, underutilisation and limited access.  There was very limited literature, suggesting the need for encouragement to publish current practice with broader analysis to guide policy making.