Ecuador will be among the first countries to receive a shipment
11 February 2025, Geneva / Memphis -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and St. Jude Children鈥檚 Research Hospital have commenced distribution of critically-needed childhood cancer medicines in 2 of 6 pilot countries, through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. Currently, these medicines are being delivered to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with next shipments planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal and Zambia. The treatments are expected to reach approximately 5000 children with cancer across at least 30 hospitals in these countries within this year.
The Global Platform is a first initiative of its kind. Countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) countries, childhood cancer survival rates are often below 30%, significantly lower than those in high-income countries. Six additional countries have been formally invited to join the platform.
The initiative is poised to become the largest, with the goal of reaching 50 nations in the next 5 to 7 years. It aims to eventually provide medicines for the treatment of approximately 120 000 children with cancer in LMICs, significantly reducing mortality rates.
鈥淔or too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines,鈥 said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. 鈥淭his unique partnership between WHO and St. Jude is working to provide quality-assured cancer medicines to paediatric hospitals in low-and middle-income countries. WHO is proud to be part of this joint initiative with St. Jude, bringing health and hope to children around the world.鈥
Every year, an estimated 400 000 children worldwide develop cancer. The majority of these children, living in resource-limited settings, are unable to consistently obtain or afford cancer medicines. 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.
鈥淎 child鈥檚 chances of surviving cancer are largely determined by where they are born, making this one of the starkest disparities in global healthcare,鈥 said James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude. 鈥淪t. Jude was founded on Danny Thomas鈥 dream that no child should die in the dawn of life. By developing this platform, we believe this dream can someday be achieved for children stricken by cancer, irrespective of where they live.鈥
Childhood cancer in the Americas
Disparity in access to treatment for childhood cancers is particularly concerning in Latin America and the Caribbean, where around 30,000 children and adolescents under the age of 19 will be diagnosed with cancer each year. Of these, nearly 10,000 will die from the disease. In Northern America, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, but in Latin America and Caribbean countries, this rate drops to around 55%, primarily due to health system challenges including limited access to affordable, quality-assured medicines.
St. Jude and WHO announced the platform in 2021 to ensure children around the world have access to lifesaving treatments. The platform brings together governments, the pharmaceutical industry and non-governmental organizations in a unique collaborative model focused on creating solutions for children with cancer. The co-design approach addresses the broader needs of national stakeholders, with a focus on capacity building and long-term sustainability.
Ecuador is the first country in the Americas to receive the essential medicines for children with cancer through the 国产麻豆精品 Strategic Fund, with shipments expected to arrive in February. In preparation, Ecuador has made notable progress in pediatric oncology by introducing pediatric formulations, harmonizing treatment protocols, improving quantification, and strengthening storage and distribution across 13 hospitals equipped with dedicated oncology units. El Salvador will be included in the platform later this year.
鈥淭he arrival of the platform medicines in Ecuador will help improve access to life-saving treatments and strengthen pediatric oncology,鈥 Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of Noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the 国产麻豆精品 (国产麻豆精品) said. 鈥淓xpanding the platform into El Salvador will extend regional efforts to guarantee equitable access to childhood cancer medicines,鈥 he added.
Beyond the platform, 国产麻豆精品鈥檚 Strategic Fund plays a key role not only in procuring medicines for countries participating in the Platform but also in ensuring affordable access to essential cancer treatments across the region. Inter-programmatic efforts include introducing pediatric formulations, harmonizing treatment protocols, improving quantification, and strengthening storage and distribution, reinforcing the Fund鈥檚 commitment to expanding access to life-saving health technologies.
The platform provides comprehensive end-to-end support, from consolidating global demand to shaping the market, assisting countries with medicine selection and developing treatment standards. It represents a transformative model for the broader global health community working together to tackle health challenges, in particular for children and noncommunicable diseases. To accomplish this, St. Jude and WHO partner with UNICEF Supply Division, and the 国产麻豆精品 (国产麻豆精品) Strategic Fund.
