Lung Cancer Incidence in Saudi Arabia: A Driver-Based Benchmarking Study
Structured and delivered an independent benchmarking study on lung cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia, breaking the question into four drivers across eight countries.
Gaurav Gugnani
Associate 2 at PwC Acceleration Centers
From their time as
Strategy Consultant
Healthark • 2024 - 2025
Overview
Gaurav was tasked with preparing a strategic brief on the incidence of lung cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, working largely independently without direct guidance on structure or approach.
The Story
Gaurav was tasked with preparing a strategic brief on the incidence of lung cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, working largely independently without direct guidance on structure or approach.
Rather than comparing raw incidence numbers across countries, he identified four underlying drivers that determine lung cancer diagnosis rates in any market: population growth, smoking prevalence, imaging density (CT and X-ray availability), and healthcare awareness among patients and professionals. This framing allowed the analysis to explain the why behind the numbers, not just the what.
He then benchmarked Saudi Arabia against eight other countries, including both developed and developing nations, across each of the four drivers. Three of the four drivers had quantifiable data available; awareness was assessed qualitatively. The comparison was designed to isolate whether Saudi Arabia's incidence profile was driven by lack of technology, lack of access, or other structural factors.
The final brief was presented to the oncology business unit of the GCC pharma client. Gaurav kept the presentation focused on the drivers and their implications for the client's planning, rather than spending time on context the audience already had. The client received the brief as a resource for forward-looking decisions.