The World Health Organization has initiated a program to provide free cancer medications for children in low-income countries, targeting to assist 5,000 children this year and expand to 120,000 over the next seven years. Despite the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, the initiative aims for a global impact. The program, backed by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will deliver quality-assured medications at no cost, addressing the high childhood cancer mortality rates in resource-limited settings.
WHO Launches Initiative for Free Cancer Medications for Children
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a groundbreaking program aimed at providing free drug deliveries to improve survival rates for thousands of children battling cancer in low-income nations. This ambitious initiative is expected to reach around fifty countries within the next seven years.
Despite the recent announcement of the United States withdrawing from the WHO, which has been a significant donor contributing $1.3 billion in 2022-2023, this initiative remains steadfast.
Aiming for Global Impact
Conceived in late 2021 and backed financially by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, this platform aims to assist 5,000 children this year and expand to support up to 120,000 young patients over the next five to seven years across approximately fifty nations.
Dr. Andre Ilbawi, who heads the cancer control program at WHO, emphasized the importance of this initiative during a press briefing: “This is the beginning of a global movement to provide children with cancer the medications they need, no matter where they live and their ability to pay.”
Childhood cancer has increasingly become a leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14 in middle- and high-income countries, garnering more attention from governments. In low- to middle-income countries, the survival rates for young patients can be as low as 30%, whereas wealthy nations boast survival rates of about 80%.
For the initial phase of this campaign, participating countries will benefit from a steady supply of quality-assured medications for childhood cancer at no cost. Mongolia and Uzbekistan have already received their first deliveries, with Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia set to follow suit. Future participants include El Salvador, Moldova, Senegal, Ghana, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
In the first year, nearly 5,000 children will have access to vital treatment in at least 30 hospitals across the initial six countries involved. The WHO has assured that the free deliveries will extend beyond the pilot phase as they work towards the sustainable development of this platform.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his contentment, stating, “For too long, children suffering from cancer have lacked life-saving medications,” and emphasized the organization’s commitment to bringing “health and hope to children around the world.”
According to WHO estimates, approximately 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually, predominantly in resource-limited settings. Alarmingly, it is estimated that 70% of these children succumb to the disease due to inadequate treatment, interruptions in care, or the use of substandard medications.
This campaign is a collaborative effort led by St. Jude Hospital, which has pledged $200 million for its launch, marking the largest single donation ever aimed at treating pediatric cancers globally, according to the WHO.