Fourteen health-care facilities across Uzbekistan will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines with end-to-end support from selection to distribution, in line with the best possible care standards, thanks to Uzbekistan’s participation in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (Global Platform). The initiative, co-founded by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and WHO, brings together partners from across the globe to co-design a transformative model for the broader global health community.
In April, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Global Platform, along with cancer care professionals and advocates, came together for a signing ceremony in Tashkent to celebrate this milestone in improving access to quality cancer medicines for children living with cancer in Uzbekistan.
On signing the Letter of Agreement, acting Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Mr Asilbek Khudayarov stated, “the selection of Uzbekistan as one of the initial 6 pilot countries in the Global Platform is a testament to the prioritization of childhood cancer by Uzbekistan. Today’s agreement will help to tremendously improve access to essential cancer medications for the 3500 children diagnosed with cancer each year across the country.”
A transformative model
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital committed to a 6-year, US $200 million investment for the Global Platform, with UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund serving as the procurement agents.
While highlighting the leadership shown by the Government, WHO Representative to Uzbekistan Dr Asheena Khalakdina noted that, “there has been unequal access to childhood cancer medicines, which has impacted survival rates. WHO is honoured to work with the Government of Uzbekistan on the Global Platform, which promises to reduce gaps in childhood cancer care and treatment so that every child with cancer gets the quality-assured treatment that they need for a chance at a future.”
Dr Khalakdina also reiterated the support available to Uzbekistan through the WHO Country Office, who will play a key coordination and support role throughout the initiative.
National policy reform
The prioritization of childhood cancer in Uzbekistan reflects the growing recognition globally that surviving a diagnosis of childhood cancer depends on the country in which a child lives. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer survive, but in many low- and middle-income countries the survival rate is less than 30%. A significant cause of this disparity is insufficient access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines for childhood cancer.
In addition to being a Global Platform pilot country, Uzbekistan has been a focus country for the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, since September 2019. Working closely with WHO, the Ministry of Health has achieved national policy reform to prioritize childhood cancer and is driving new approaches to training specialist health-care workers from across the country. With the support of the Global Platform partners, national stakeholders will now come together to develop an action-oriented roadmap for the delivery and safe distribution of quality-assured medicines for childhood cancer to facilities across Uzbekistan.
Dr Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Executive Vice President at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Co-Chair of the Global Platform Steering Committee, commented, “we are so pleased to be working with Uzbekistan to implement the Global Platform. The leadership and collaboration among policy-makers, health professionals, regulatory authorities, and many other stakeholders to co-design a model that ensures that Uzbek children receive the best-quality cancer care is critical to the success of the Global Platform, and will serve as an inspiration to other countries expected to join the Global Platform in the coming years.”