The World Health Organization and partners in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines have launched a new strategy aimed at improving sustainable access to quality-assured cancer medicines for children.
The 2026–2030 market-shaping strategy, titled Closing the childhood cancer survival gap through sustainable access to medicines, focuses on strengthening the global market for essential childhood cancer medicines.
Access to reliable, affordable and quality-assured medicines remains an important contributor to the large difference in childhood cancer survival between wealthier and lower-income countries.
WHO estimates that around 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year, with close to 90% living in low- and middle-income countries.
Survival in many of those countries remains below 30%, compared with more than 80% in many high-income countries.
What is the Global Platform?
The Global Platform was established by WHO and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, working with UNICEF and the PAHO Strategic Fund.
It aims to improve the reliable supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries and is expected ultimately to reach approximately 120,000 children.
The new strategy uses the experience of the platform to address problems in the medicines market that can contribute to shortages, unreliable supply and limited access.
Relevance to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka joined the Global Platform in February 2026.
WHO said at the time that approximately 800 children are diagnosed with cancer in Sri Lanka each year, with most receiving treatment at the National Cancer Institute Sri Lanka, commonly known as Apeksha Hospital.
Participation in the platform is intended to support access to a reliable supply of essential, quality-assured childhood cancer medicines.
However, today's global strategy announcement should not be interpreted as confirmation that a new shipment of medicines has arrived in Sri Lanka today.
It is a global medicines-access and market strategy for 2026–2030.