WHO Reaffirms Support for Childhood Cancer Care in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Pakistan improve childhood cancer care and increase access to life-saving treatment.

The WHO said more than 8,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan each year. It stressed that early diagnosis and timely treatment can save lives.

On the occasion of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the WHO said most childhood cancers can be cured with timely and appropriate treatment.

Such treatment includes essential medicines, surgery and radiotherapy.

Childhood Cancer Survival Gap

Around 400,000 children develop cancer worldwide every year, according to the WHO.

More than 80% of children with cancer survive in high-income countries, where comprehensive treatment services are generally available.

However, survival rates in most low- and middle-income countries remain below 30%.

The WHO said limited access to quality treatment and essential medicines remains a major reason for poor survival outcomes in these countries.

Free Cancer Medicines for Pakistani Children

The WHO is working with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination under the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.

The programme aims to provide quality-assured childhood cancer medicines free of cost.

Four Pakistani hospitals are already completing the final preparations to receive the medicines by the end of 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027.

Seven more hospitals are expected to implement technical recommendations during 2027. They will then prepare to receive the medicines.

The long-term goal is to provide free, quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to all hospitals treating children with cancer in Pakistan.

Pakistan formally joined the Global Platform on July 29, 2025. It became the second country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to participate in the initiative.

The Global Platform was co-founded by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the WHO in 2021.

The initiative seeks to ensure a reliable supply of certified childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries.

Pakistan Targets Higher Survival Rate

The programme works with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund and UNICEF.

UNICEF will help procure and deliver the medicines to Pakistan.

The initiative aims to increase Pakistan’s childhood cancer survival rate from around 30% to 60% by 2030.

It also aims to ensure that children can access treatment regardless of their economic or social circumstances.

The programme will provide technical guidance, resources and operational support to the Ministry of Health and provincial authorities.

These efforts will focus on strengthening the health system and improving childhood cancer services.

“Thanks to medical science, today childhood cancer can be cured. But for that, timely diagnosis and sustained treatment are essential,” WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng said.

“Every child affected by cancer deserves a chance to defeat the disease and fulfil their dreams, regardless of social or economic status, no matter where they live or who they are,” he added.

Dr Luo said the WHO was proud of its partnership with Pakistan through the Global Platform.

He added that the organisation would continue working to give every child with cancer an opportunity to recover and lead a healthy life.