The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
It is estimated that 400,000 children develop cancer every year. Close to 90% of them live in LMICs, where survival rates are less than 30%. This is in stark contrast to high-income countries, where survival rates exceed 80%. A significant cause of this disparity in survival is insufficient access to quality-assured, safe, effective and affordable medicines for childhood cancer. A number of initiatives for improving access to cancer medicines have been developed over the past decade.
The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (Global Platform) will have the largest reach to children living with cancer of any program to date, anticipating expansion to provide medicines to treat approximately 120,000 children in LMICs.
St. Jude has committed to a six-year investment to launch the Global Platform in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund.
The Challenge
An effective market for childhood cancer medicines is constrained by complex, interrelated systemic factors, resulting in market fragmentation, lack of availability of essential medicines, low-quality products, and high purchasing costs.
Availability
The availability of essential cancer medicines around the globe is inconsistent due to supply and demand issues and complicated regulations.
Quality
The quality of medicines is threatened when governments and administrations favor the lowest-cost bids.
Cost
The cost of childhood cancer medicines is often excluded from budgets, creating financial hardship for families in LMICs.
71% of low-income countries report general shortages in cancer medicines.
The Global Platform brings together St. Jude, WHO, UNICEF, PAHO Strategic Fund, governments, the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, non-governmental organizations, and nonprofit sector decision makers in a truly collaborative spirit to co-design a sustainable model. It will shape the market for childhood cancer medicines, rapidly increase access to care for thousands of children, and serve as a transformative model for the broader global health community in how we might work together to address these challenges in access to care for non-communicable diseases.
The Platform:
The Global Platform aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines with end-to-end support from selecting to distributing medicines according to the best possible care standards. The Global Platform will:
Initially purchase and distribute medicines for childhood cancer at no cost to recipient countries.
Distribute medicines of assured quality and efficacy. The list of medicines that the Global Platform will procure was selected through a rigorous process.
Reinforce political commitment for childhood cancer control and support governments to safeguard families of children with cancer.
Provide readiness support in advance of delivery of medicines, including assisting national stakeholders as they develop a tailored implementation roadmap.
Take innovative approaches to shape the market for childhood cancer medicines to avoid interruptions in supply and promote timely regulatory approvals.
Approximately 120,000 children in LMICs are anticipated to receive Global Platform medicines in the initial phases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children are diagnosed with cancer each year worldwide?
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 LMICs, where survival rates are less than 30%.
What is the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines?
The Global Platform aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to LMICs. St. Jude has committed to launch the Global Platform in partnership with the WHO, UNICEF and PAHO Strategic Fund.
What makes this Global Platform unique?
A number of programs for improving access to cancer medicines have been developed over the past decade. The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines is the largest in scope and most comprehensive in approach. The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines brings St. Jude, WHO, UNICEF, PAHO SF, governments, the pharmaceutical industry, non-governmental organizations, and nonprofit sector decision makers together in a truly collaborative spirit to co-design a platform that will be sustainable. It is unique in its size and scope, catalyzed by a commitment from St. Jude that will restructure the market to better respond to the needs of children with cancer and their providers. We believe this platform not only will transform access to childhood cancer medicines, but also will serve as a model for the broader global health community in how we might work together to address these challenges in access to care for non-communicable diseases.
Why is getting children access to lifesaving cancer medicines so difficult?
Many hospitals treating children with cancer across the world struggle to consistently access quality-assured, effective, and affordable medicines for their patients. Although essential medicine availability is a global challenge, an analysis of the market has shown hospitals in LMICs face the most severe consequences pertaining to cancer medicines. Inconsistent planning, purchasing and financing of cancer medicines for children can result in higher out-of-pocket expenditure, more frequent stockouts and concerns about medicine quality. An effective childhood-cancer-medicine market is constrained by complex, interrelated systemic factors, resulting in market fragmentation, lack of availability of essential medicines, low-quality products, and high purchasing costs.
What is St. Jude committing to address the problem?
St. Jude provided a six-year, $200 million investment to support the development and launch of the Global Platform. This is the largest financial commitment for a global childhood cancer medicines project to date. St. Jude is committed to the success of this important endeavor. In addition, St. Jude will provide technical support, including expertise on global pediatric oncology.
How will the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines work?
The Global Platform aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines with end-to-end support from selecting to distributing medicines according to the best possible care standards. The Global Platform will:
Initially purchase and distribute medicines for childhood cancer at no cost to recipient countries. St. Jude will cover the cost of purchasing and distributing the medicines to the ports of entry. The early phases of the initiative will build sustainability from a multifaceted approach.
Distribute medicines of assured quality and efficacy. The list of medicines the Global Platform will procure was selected through a rigorous process that included expertise from St. Jude, WHO, UNICEF and PAHO. All medicines are on the WHO Essential Medicines List.
Play a crucial role in supply chain planning and strengthening, addressing the unique challenges of each country to enhance the timely availability of medicines through efficient inventory management, demand forecasting, and coordination with various stakeholders.
Provide country onboarding and readiness support, including multiple module assessments and an implementation roadmap.
Increase political commitment for childhood cancer control and support governments to safeguard families of children with cancer.
Take an innovative approach that will address the fragmentation of purchasing medicines in LMICs that often results in higher prices, interruptions in supply and out-of-pocket expenditure that results in financial hardship for families.
What medicines will be procured and distributed as part of the Global Platform?
Global Platform medicines are on the WHO Essential Medicines List for Children. Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease burden and public health relevance and evidence of efficacy and safety. The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and Model List of Essential Medicines for Children – which are updated and published every two years – are used as a guide to develop the medicines available on the catalog and are adapted to the national context in accordance with local priorities and treatment guidelines.
Which countries will benefit from the Global Platform?
Ecuador, Jordan, Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Zambia have agreed to participate as the initial pilot countries and partners in co-designing the implementation of the Global Platform. Recognizing the need for safe and effective medicines is global, additional countries will begin participating in 2025 with the goal of scaling up the Global Platform over the next few years.
How will the Global Platform ensure the quality of distributed medicines?
UNICEF and PAHO Strategic Fund serve as the procurement agents for the Global Platform. UNICEF and PAHO Strategic Fund have developed agreements with manufacturers that meet quality and/or regulatory thresholds.
