It is estimated that approximately 400,000 children develop cancer each year, approximately only half of whom are diagnosed. Close to 90% of them live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where survival rates are less than 30%.
Lack of access to safe and effective medicines is a barrier to cancer care worldwide. Many hospitals struggle to reliably access affordable, high-quality medications for pediatric cancer patients. In fact, 71% of low-income countries report general shortages in cancer medicines.
At the 70th World Health Assembly, global health leaders adopted a new resolution that called for better access to essential medicines and other measures for all with cancer.
The availability of essential cancer medicines around the globe is inconsistent due to supply and demand issues and complicated regulations.
The quality of medicines is threatened when governments and administrations favor the lowest-cost bids.
The cost of childhood cancer medicines is often excluded from budgets, creating financial hardship for families in low- and middle-income countries.
71% of low-income countries report general shortages in cancer medicines.
St. Jude and WHO are creating a platform to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality cancer medicines to children with cancer.
The platform will bring St. Jude, WHO, governments, the pharmaceutical industry, nongovernmental organizations and the nonprofit sector together to ensure that quality and effective medicines are available to treat childhood cancer. This effort will increase the global visibility and predictability of the market for childhood cancer medicines.
In six years, approximately 120,000 children in low- and middle-income countries could benefit.
Panelists from St. Jude, WHO, SIOP & CCI speak about Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.
View the WebinarSt. Jude and WHO address the challenge of access to childhood cancer medicines
Download an OverviewDownload an information sheet on the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines
Get the FactsWorld Health Organization and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to dramatically increase global access to childhood cancer medicines
Read the Press ReleaseWHO and St. Jude work together to expand access to childhood cancer medicines
Read the Article