WHO and St. Jude Begin Global Childhood Cancer Medicine Distribution

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (TN), United States have commenced distributing critically-needed childhood cancer medicines in 2 of 6 pilot countries, through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. Currently, these medicines are being delivered to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with next shipments planned for Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal and Zambia. The treatments are expected to reach approximately 5000 children with cancer across at least 30 hospitals in these countries within this year.

The Global Platform is a pioneering initiative of its kind with countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost. In low and middle -income countries (LMICs), the survival rates in paediatric oncology are often below 30%, significantly lower than those in high-income countries. The initiative is poised to become the largest, with the goal of reaching 50 nations in the next 5 to 7 years. It aims to eventually provide medicines for the treatment of approximately 120 000 children with cancer in LMICs, significantly reducing mortality rates. 

“For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Similarly, “A child’s chances of surviving cancer are largely determined by where they are born, making this one of the starkest disparities in global healthcare,” said James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude. “St. Jude was founded on Danny Thomas’ dream that no child should die in the dawn of life.

“This unique partnership, between WHO and St. Jude, is working to provide quality-assured cancer medicines to paediatric hospitals in low-and middle-income countries. WHO is proud to be part of this joint initiative with St. Jude, bringing health and hope to children around the world”. By developing this platform, it is believed, the dream envisaged can someday eliminate the hindrances encountered by the cancer-stricken children, irrespective of where they live.”

Every year, an estimated 400000 children worldwide develop cancer. The majority of these children, living in resource-limited settings, are unable to consistently obtain or afford cancer medicines. It is estimated that 70% of the children from these settings die from cancer due to factors such as lack of appropriate treatment, treatment disruptions or low-quality medicines.

St. Jude and WHO announced the inception of the platform in 2021, bringing together governments, the pharmaceutical industry and non-governmental organisations in a unique collaborative model focused on creating solutions for children with cancer. The co-design approach addresses the broader needs of national stakeholders, with a focus on capacity building and long-term sustainability. The platform provides comprehensive end-to-end support, from consolidating global demand to shaping the market, assisting countries with medicine selection and developing treatment standards. It represents a transformative model for the broader global health community working together to tackle health challenges, in particular for children and noncommunicable diseases. To accomplish this, St. Jude and WHO has partnered with UNICEF Supply Division, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund.

World Health Organisation (WHO) – is the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and healthcare. In the field of Paediatric Oncology, WHO works with over 100 global partners through the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, to support governments in developing high-quality cancer centres and regional satellites that ensure early, accurate diagnosis and effective treatments for children with cancer. WHO also develops standards and tools to guide the planning and implementation of interventions for diagnosis, treatment and palliative and survivorship care. Progress on childhood cancer, as well as on other noncommunicable diseases, are part of the agenda for the UN General Assembly Fourth High-Level Meeting of the on noncommunicable diseases to take place in September 2025.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – treats and cures childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening disorders. It is a non-profit organization based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centres around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children.

Team Maverick