The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to provide cost-free cancer medicines to thousands of children in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to bridge the gap in survival rates between high- and lower-income nations.
As part of the project’s pilot phase, the first shipments of medication have been sent to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with additional deliveries planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. This year alone, treatments are expected to reach around 5,000 children across at least 30 hospitals in these six countries.
“Countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost,” WHO stated in an official release.
Childhood cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income nations often fall below 30%, in stark contrast to the approximately 80% survival rate in high-income countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines.”
The program is set to expand further, with six additional countries invited to join. WHO aims to reach 50 countries within the next five to seven years, providing essential cancer treatments to approximately 120,000 children.
Each year, an estimated 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, the majority of them in resource-limited settings. “It is estimated that 70% of the children from these settings die from cancer due to factors such as lack of appropriate treatment, treatment disruptions, or low-quality medicines,” WHO reported.
The organization confirmed that cost-free drug distribution will continue beyond the pilot phase, with efforts underway to ensure the platform’s long-term sustainability.
Originally announced in December 2021, the initiative is a collaborative effort between WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The renowned pediatric treatment and research institution has committed $200 million to launch the program, WHO stated.
This initiative marks a critical step toward addressing disparities in childhood cancer treatment and improving survival rates for children in vulnerable communities worldwide.
AFP
