This study was undertaken to assess the status of the brain tumour programs in Asia and Africa and propose a comprehensive evidence based short- and long-term measures for improving the existing systems. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in June 2022 by the Asia-Africa Neurosurgery Collaborative Group (ASAFRIN-Collaborators). Google online forms was used to design a 27-questions questionnaire to gain insight into the status and future directions of the brain tumour programs within Asia and Africa. Six pillars of brain tumour programs were identified -surgery, oncology, neuropathology, research, training, finances -and assigned scores of 0-14. The total scores allowed sub-classification of each country into levels of brain tumour program as Level I to VI. A total of 110 responses for 92 countries were received. These were subdivided into three groups – Group 1 (countries with response from neurosurgeons) with 73 responses, Group 2 (countries with no neurosurgeons) with 19 countries and Group 3 (countries without a neurosurgeon response) with 16 countries. The pillars with the highest level of brain tumour program were surgery, neuropathology and oncology. Most of the countries in both continents fell in Level III brain tumour program with a mean surgical score of 2.24. The major lag between each group was with respect to the advances in neuropathology and financial support. There is an urgent need to improve and develop existing and non-existing neuro-oncology infrastructure, personnel and logistics in countries across the continents especially, for the countries without neurosurgeons.
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