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 improve survival rates that lag significantly behind those in wealthier nations.
As part of the project’s pilot phase, the first shipments of medicine have already reached Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with further deliveries planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. The initiative is expected to benefit around 5,000 children across at least 30 hospitals in these six countries by the end of the year.
“Countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost,” WHO announced in a statement.
Childhood cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries often fall below 30 percent, compared to approximately 80 percent in high-income nations.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgent need for intervention: “For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines.”
The initiative aims to expand rapidly, with an additional six countries invited to join. WHO hopes to reach 50 countries within five to seven years, ultimately providing medicine to approximately 120,000 children.
Currently, an estimated 400,000 children worldwide develop cancer each year, with most cases occurring in resource-limited settings. The WHO reports that 70 percent of children in these regions die due to factors such as inadequate treatment, treatment disruptions, or poor-quality medicines.
The provision of free medicine is expected to continue beyond the pilot phase, with sustainability efforts already underway.
The initiative was first announced in December 2021 and is a collaborative effort between WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The renowned non-profit pediatric treatment and research institution has committed $200 million to the launch of the platform, ensuring a strong foundation for its future impact.
This initiative represents a significant step forward in global health equity, offering hope to thousands of children who previously had limited access to essential cancer treatment.
Source: AFP
