Our Work & Programs
Guided by Purpose: Transforming Cancer Care, One Country at a Time
The work of the Elekta Foundation is built on and guided by our mission. One of the most tangible impacts of this mission is increasing access to cancer care in underserved regions, thereby reducing mortality rates and improving survival outcomes.
Did you know that in Sweden, the five-year survival rate for cancer is 72%? By comparison, in many parts of Africa, it is just 24%. This disparity is not just a statistic, it’s a call to action.
We are working to change this reality, country by country. Our approach begins with pilot programs tailored to local conditions. These pilots allow us to understand the specific challenges and opportunities in each setting. From there, we support governments in developing and strengthening their cancer care systems, with a particular focus on women’s integrated cancer care.
We collaborate with a wide array of stakeholders within a multifaceted ecosystem, including, but not limited to, governments, healthcare providers, academic institutions, NGOs, civil society organizations, and local communities. This inclusive and dynamic network ensures that our initiatives are contextually grounded, widely supported, and built for long-term impact.
By following this strategy, we ensure that our efforts are scalable, adaptable, and rooted in sustainable capacity building. Women’s integrated cancer care remains at the heart of our work, not only because women are disproportionately affected by certain cancers, but because advancing women’s health is essential to building healthier, more resilient societies.
Building stronger systems through two focus areas
The Elekta Foundation’s work is structured around two primary focus areas, each essential to advancing equitable cancer care:
- Increase Awareness & Prevention
- Expand Training & Skill Development
These two pillars guide our initiatives and ensure that our efforts are both targeted and transformative.
Increase Awareness & Prevention
In this area, we prioritize women’s integrated cancer care, raising awareness of prevention, early detection, and treatment options for cancers that disproportionately affect women, particularly cervical and breast cancer. These are two of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in many countries, especially in Africa. Our goal is to empower individuals, communities, and health systems with the knowledge and tools needed to act early and effectively.
Expand Training & Skill Development
To strengthen cancer care systems in underserved regions, we place a strong emphasis on building clinical competence in radiotherapy. Through a global network of partners, the Elekta Foundation provides cost-free, high-quality training to radiation oncology professionals.
These programs are designed to:
- Bridge critical knowledge gaps
- Increase patient throughput
- Improve the quality and safety of care
- Build sustainable local expertise
By supporting clinical training and research, we empower healthcare professionals with the skills and tools they need to deliver effective, safe, and equitable cancer treatment. This work is essential to ensuring that radiotherapy becomes a reliable and accessible part of cancer care in every region we serve.
Increase Awareness & Prevention Program
- Women's Integrated Cancer Care
Breast cancer needs to be detected early, and regular check-ups are a must. Some years ago, the Elekta Foundation started with dual screening, which means that when a woman is screened for cervical cancer, a screening for breast cancer is also done. In low-resource settings, this approach allows breast cancer to be detected early and followed up with timely treatment. Nurses and midwives are trained in performing clinical breast examinations (CBE), and if something abnormal is discovered, women are referred for ultrasound and biopsy. By doing this, many women can be diagnosed with breast cancer at a much earlier stage, thereby saving lives. Screening and early detection are key.
Learn more about breast cancer here.
Expand Training & Skill Development Program
- Radiotherapy
Elekta Foundation build capacity where it’s needed most. In many low-resource settings, access to radiotherapy is severely limited, not only due to a lack of equipment, but also because of a critical shortage of trained professionals. Without skilled radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists, even the most advanced technology cannot be fully utilized.
At the Elekta Foundation, we believe education is the key to unlocking access. That’s why we prioritize comprehensive, vendor-neutral training programs that empower local clinicians to deliver safe, timely, and effective care. Courses in English, French, Arabic, and Spanish, reaching professionals across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
We believe everyone should have access to the best cancer care, no matter who you are and where you live.
Watch our short video to see how the Elekta Foundation is working to bring high-quality, equitable cancer care. From local partnerships to global training programs, this is how impact happens, on the ground, and around the globe.
Main partners
The Foundation collaborates with key partners that acknowledge the importance of joining forces to tackle cervical cancer:
Rwandan Ministry of Health
Rwanda Biomedical Center
Rwanda Society for Family Health
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Partners In Health
Gynius Plus AB
Heza Initiative
African Center for Research on End of Life Care
Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Rayos Contra Cancer
United Nations Population Fund