WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has entered into a new partnership agreement with the US-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help strengthen equitable access to childhood cancer medications for children in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The four-year agreement will focus on the supply of guaranteed quality medicines through the PAHO Strategic Fund in order to support the organization’s technical cooperation with member states to strengthen healthcare services: childhood cancer and drug management systems.
PAHO said its goal is to improve outcomes from childhood cancer, which affects more than 47,000 children and claims more than 12,000 lives each year in the region.
“In the Americas, childhood cancer survival rates vary between countries, highlighting disparities,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO.
He said this is due to differences in the quality of care services. And treatment, including access to timely diagnosis and treatment adherence.
Under the new agreement, the PAHO Strategic Fund will work on implementing the Global Platform for Access to Medicines against Childhood Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean. This global initiative will supply quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries.
PAHO said the platform will provide comprehensive support for drug supply, assist countries in drug selection, develop treatment standards, and create information systems to drive evidence-based innovation.
It said an estimated 120,000 children worldwide will benefit in this first phase until 2027.
“The Global Platform for Access to Medicines for Childhood Cancer is an innovative and transformative initiative. It will create a coordinated approach for purchasing and distributing essential medicines for children with cancer, easing the financial burden on governments, hospitals, and families,” said Carlos Rodríguez-Galindo, Director of St. Jude Global.
The alliance supports PAHO’s broader commitment to address complex health challenges, ensure equitable access to essential medicines, and build a healthier future for all American children.
Meanwhile, PAHO said that it is estimated that at least 30,000 girls, boys, and adolescents under 19 years of age in LAC will be affected by cancer annually and that about 10,000 will die from this disease.
PAHO disclosed in a message marking International Childhood Cancer Day on Thursday.
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