GENEVA: In a significant effort to improve childhood cancer survival rates, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched a new platform aimed at providing free cancer medications to children in low- and middle-income countries.
As part of the project’s pilot phase, the first shipments of these medications have already been dispatched to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with additional deliveries planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. The initiative is expected to benefit around 5,000 children battling cancer across 30 institutions in these six countries this year.
“Countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost,” the WHO stated.
Bridging the Cancer Survival Gap
The WHO highlighted the stark disparity in childhood cancer survival rates between wealthy and poorer nations. While survival rates in high-income countries stand at approximately 80 percent, they remain below 30 percent in many low- and middle-income regions due to a lack of proper treatment, medication shortages, and disruptions in care.
“Children with cancer have not had access to life-saving medications for far too long,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, emphasizing the urgent need for global action.
Long-Term Goals and Expansion
The platform aims to expand its reach to 50 countries over the next five to seven years, with the goal of providing medications to nearly 120,000 children. The WHO estimates that 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer annually, with the majority residing in resource-limited settings where healthcare infrastructure is inadequate.
“It is estimated that 70 percent of children in these regions die from cancer due to factors such as lack of appropriate treatment, treatment disruptions, or low-quality medicines,” the WHO noted.
The WHO also assured that the platform is being designed for long-term sustainability, ensuring that the free medication program continues beyond the initial pilot phase.
A Collaborative Effort
This initiative is a collaboration between the WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The non-profit pediatric care and research organization has pledged $200 million to support the launch of the platform.
Originally announced in December 2021, the initiative underscores the commitment to making life-saving cancer treatments accessible to children regardless of their geographical and economic conditions.
With this bold step, the WHO aims to close the gap in childhood cancer survival rates and ensure that children in underprivileged regions receive the medical care they desperately need.
