The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Monday the launch of a programme to supply tested cancer medicines to children in poorer countries.
The WHO and the St Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis are behind the programme, designed to help young people worldwide.
About 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, with nine out of 10 living in low- or middle-income countries, where they often lack access to medicines.
WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that lack of access means their chances of survival are less than 30 per cent, far lower than 80 per cent for children in wealthy countries.
He said about 100,000 children with cancer die every year.
St Jude Hospital is providing 200 million dollars over six years for the programme, which seeks to treat 120,000 children in 50 countries by 2027.
Meanwhile, 12 countries are due to participate in the pilot phase by 2023, although it was not clear which countries.
The programme aims to help governments select drugs and treatment plans.
“Also to reduce prices and ensure a reliable supply by consolidating orders.’’
It also aims to promote innovation and prevent business with counterfeit medicines.
A further goal is to support those in places where families have to pay for the drugs themselves, leading to financial difficulties.
Cancer drugs are generally available in 96 per cent of rich countries, while only 29 per cent have reliable access to the necessary drugs in low-income countries.
