Geneva:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new platform aimed at providing cost-free cancer medicines to children in low- and middle-income countries. This initiative seeks to improve survival rates, which remain significantly lower in resource-limited settings.

As part of the pilot phase, WHO has already begun delivering life-saving medicines to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with further shipments planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. The program is expected to reach around 5,000 children across 30 hospitals in these six countries in 2024.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need to improve access to cancer treatments in developing nations. Childhood cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries are often below 30%, compared to 80% in high-income nations. By ensuring an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured medicines at no cost, WHO aims to address this critical gap.

In the long run, the initiative plans to expand to 50 countries over the next 5–7 years, ultimately providing cancer treatment for 120,000 children. WHO has also assured that the cost-free provision of medicines will continue beyond the pilot phase, with a focus on long-term sustainability.

The program is a joint effort between WHO and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. St. Jude has committed $200 million to the initiative, ensuring access to treatment for children who would otherwise go without. This platform represents a major step forward in addressing global health inequalities and giving thousands of children a better chance at survival.