There is a vital need to address childhood cancer on a global scale, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Sean Lybrand, Executive Director and Strategic Lead of the Access to Healthcare Unit at Amgen, calls for a coordinated, multi-sectoral response.
Childhood cancer is a devastating diagnosis that shatters the lives of millions of children and their families across the world. While significant advances have been made in the treatment of childhood cancer in high-income countries, where survival rates exceed 80%, the story is starkly different in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In these regions, survival rates often fall below 30%, and in some cases, are as low as 10%. This discrepancy is not just a matter of inequality; it is a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent global attention.
The report you are about to read sheds light on this critical issue, emphasising the vital need to address childhood cancer on a global scale, with a particular focus on LMICs, where limited resources, lack of access to essential medicines, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure contribute to tragically low survival rates. These challenges are compounded by the fact that childhood cancer is often diagnosed at later stages in LMICs, reducing the chances of successful treatment.
However, the story does not end with despair. There is hope, and it comes in the form of coordinated global action. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the urgent need to address childhood cancer as a global health priority. In 2018, it launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), a groundbreaking effort aimed at achieving at least a 60% survival rate for children with cancer in LMICs by 2030. This ambitious initiative is built on two pillars: strengthening national capacities to diagnose and treat childhood cancer and improving access to affordable, high-quality medicines and technologies.
The GICC is a beacon of hope for millions of children who otherwise might not have a chance to survive their diagnosis. By working closely with governments, healthcare providers, and international partners, the initiative seeks to develop and implement national cancer control plans that are tailored to the unique needs of each country. These plans focus on early diagnosis, ensuring that more children are diagnosed at a stage when treatment is most effective, and on providing access to appropriate treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
A critical component of the GICC is the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, jointly launched in 2021 by the WHO and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This platform is designed to address one of the most significant barriers to successful treatment in LMICs: the lack of access to essential medicines. In many low-income countries, life-saving cancer medicines are either unavailable or unaffordable, leading to preventable deaths. The Global Platform seeks to bridge this gap by ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live, have access to the medicines they need to survive.
There is still much work to be done, and the success of these initiatives depends on sustained commitment from the global community. Governments, healthcare providers, donors, and civil society must come together to ensure that the progress made thus far is not only maintained but accelerated. This requires continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in LMICs, where the gaps are most significant. It also requires ongoing support for research and innovation to develop new and more effective treatments for childhood cancer.
This report is a call to action. It provides an analysis of the challenges and opportunities in the fight against childhood cancer, especially in LMICs. It underscores the importance of global solidarity in addressing this critical issue and highlights the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral response. Most importantly, it reminds us that behind every statistic is a child—a child with dreams, potential, and the right to a future, regardless of where they live.
As you read this report, I urge you to consider the role you can play in this global effort. Whether you are a policymaker, a healthcare provider, a donor, or an advocate, your actions can make a difference. Together, we can ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, has the chance to survive cancer and live a full, healthy life. Let us rise to the challenge and make childhood cancer a global health priority.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Re:solve Global Health.
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