GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a new platform aimed at delivering free-of-charge cancer medications to children in low- and middle-income countries, where childhood cancer survival rates are often under 30 percent.
Collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
In collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the WHO has commenced the distribution of essential childhood cancer medicines in two of six pilot countries. The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines is the initiative’s core focus.
Currently, medications are being sent to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with additional shipments scheduled for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. The WHO expects that approximately 5,000 children across at least 30 hospitals in these countries will receive treatments this year.
Key Points
- WHO launches platform to provide free childhood cancer medicines in low- and middle-income countries.
- The initiative is a collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Medicines are currently being delivered to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with more shipments to follow.
- The project aims to treat 5,000 children in at least 30 hospitals this year.
- The platform will expand to 50 countries over the next 5 to 7 years, targeting around 120,000 children.
Improving Survival Rates for Children with Cancer
The WHO stated that childhood cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries are often below 30 percent, compared to around 80 percent in high-income countries. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s chief, emphasized the importance of the platform in providing much-needed access to life-saving medicines for children, who have long suffered from a lack of treatment.
“This platform will bring health and hope to children around the world,” Tedros added. Countries like El Salvador, Moldova, Senegal, Ghana, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are expected to join the initiative soon.
Aiming for Global Reach
The platform’s goal is to expand to 50 countries in the next five to seven years, aiming to provide treatment to approximately 120,000 children with cancer.
The Global Challenge
The WHO reports that each year, about 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, with the majority living in resource-limited settings. Unfortunately, 70 percent of children from these regions are likely to die from cancer due to issues such as lack of proper treatment, treatment interruptions, or low-quality medications.
James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, noted that a child’s chance of surviving cancer is largely determined by their geographic location, which highlights one of the most significant disparities in global healthcare.
The launch of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines marks a pivotal moment in the fight for better cancer care for children in underprivileged regions. By bringing together governments, the pharmaceutical industry, and non-governmental organizations, the platform strives to close the healthcare gap and improve survival rates for children facing cancer in low- and middle-income countries.