Expanding childhood cancer services
Overview
Over 60,000 children develop cancer in the region every year; and more than half of them succumb to the disease. This is in sharp contrast to the situation in high income countries where more than 85% of the children with cancer are cured of the disease. Difficulties in access to care and suboptimal availability of evidence based quality treatment contribute to the gap in survival figures. Childhood cancers altogether is estimated to be the ninth leading cause of globally burden of childhood illnesses in terms of disability adjusted life years.
WHO has launched the global initiative on childhood cancer with target of achieving at least 60% global survival rate and reduce sufferings for all children with cancers by 2030. Childhood cancers are not preventable in general, thus strengthening the capacity for early diagnosis and treatment is the key to reducing the burden. Prioritizing childhood cancer in national policies, establishing centres of excellences with network of referral and shared care, supporting families during treatment with benefit packages via universal health coverage approach, standardising treatment regimens, ensuring availability of essential medicines and diagnostics, and evaluating and monitoring the proper implementation of these strategies are the way to achieving improved survival. WHO has developed a CureAll framework to direct coordinated approach in implementing the strategies.
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia has established a network of practice of key institutions delivering childhood cancer services, the South-East Asia Childhood Cancer Network (SEAR-CCN) to promote collaboration and sharing of best practices. The network also runs a regular Virtual Tumor Board and hosts technical dialogues on topics of common interest. WHO is also supporting activities with focus on specific country needs ranging from strengthening quality improvement to establishment of shared care network among other things.
