Table 1.

Identified barriers and solutions to optimize patient access to hypofractionated radiation therapy in cancer care based on observations from the Asia-Pacific region at select cancer sites

Barrier	Solution
Inadequate provider reimbursement, especially when considering advanced techniques	Reworking provider remuneration models to move away from pay-per-fraction models and account for patient outcomes, use of advanced techniques, and adherence to evidence-based practice Making national and international hypofractionation reimbursement models publicly available Facilitating communication between government agencies, providers, and payers
Lack of available resources, administrative abilities, or technology	Applying lessons from COVID-19 effect (eg, appointment scheduling) to radiation therapy
Barriers within professional culture and ununified multidisciplinary teams	Increased clinical trial data to ease concerns regarding radiation toxicity Promoting a multidisciplinary approach to treatment planning
Gaps in the clinical pathway, including a lack of referrals and an absence of joint decision-making	Patient advocacy Patient/physician education Joint decision-making with patients
Knowledge gaps and clinical evidence needs (eg, clinical trial data, real-world evidence, cost-effectiveness data)	Increased data generation to fill gaps and bolster confidence
The evolving oncology landscape (eg, new methods of investigation and treatment)	Increased research and development efforts within hypofractionation