Africa: WHO Launches New Global Health Strategy for Childhood Cancer Medications
[IPS] United Nations -- When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their chances of survival should not depend on where they live, yet according to the WHO, more than 80 percent of children with cancer in high-income countries are cured, compared with fewer than 30 percent in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new global health strategy aimed at improving access to childhood cancer medications. According to the WHO, more than 80% of children with cancer in high-income countries are cured, compared to fewer than 30% in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The main barrier to treatment is the lack of access to essential medicines.
In East Africa, hospitals frequently face stockouts of critical chemotherapy agents such as methotrexate and etoposide. This highlights the urgent need to ensure that children have uninterrupted access to the medicines they require for treatment.
Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Executive Vice President of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, emphasized that no child should be denied a chance of survival due to the unavailability, unaffordability, or inaccessibility of necessary medicines.
The new strategy report outlines ten interventions to be implemented between 2026 and 2030. These interventions include working closely with pharmaceutical companies, increasing reliable suppliers, accelerating medicine approval, improving planning and purchasing processes, and strengthening access to affordable, quality-assured childhood cancer medicines. The report also highlights the importance of including these medicines in national health coverage and encouraging the development of new treatments.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
