On February 4, as the world observes World Cancer Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to prioritize access to essential cancer medicines, supplies, and equipment. Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the Americas, claiming over 1.4 million lives and causing more than four million new cases each year.
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, stressed the urgent need to improve access to cancer treatment across the region. This call comes in response to the significant cancer burden that continues to affect millions, emphasizing the importance of addressing disparities in healthcare and ensuring that vital resources are available to all.
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa emphasized, “We must work toward a future where no one is without the cancer care they need to survive. Improving equitable access to these treatments is essential for better outcomes and quality of life.” While advancements have been made in cancer care, significant barriers remain, including high costs, inefficient procurement systems, and limited distribution networks. Tackling these issues requires a comprehensive approach, such as updating treatment protocols and adopting pooled procurement strategies to enhance predictability and reduce the high costs of cancer medications.
The disparity in childhood cancer care is especially alarming. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is estimated that around 30,000 children and adolescents under 19 will be diagnosed with cancer each year, with nearly 10,000 dying from the disease. While high-income countries boast cure rates above 80% for children with cancer, the survival rate in many low- and middle-income nations is only about 20%. This stark contrast highlights the urgent need for improved cancer care access and outcomes in these regions.
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“The gap in survival rates is largely due to limited access to affordable, quality-assured medicines,” said Dr Mauricio Maza, PAHO’s Regional Advisor on Cancer.
PAHO also continues its work with global partners to improve childhood cancer care. Through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, PAHO is working with the World Health Organization (WHO), St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and UNICEF to ensure a continuous supply of affordable, quality cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
In 2024, PAHO signed an agreement with St Jude to implement the platform in Latin America and the Caribbean, aiming to scale access efforts and strengthen national planning and procurement capacity, including enhancing supply chain resilience for childhood cancer treatments. These partnerships are critical to closing the survival gap for children in LMICs.
PAHO’s Strategic Fund is a key tool in improving access to cancer medicines.
“We urge all countries in the region to better utilize this resource, which offers essential cancer medicines, as well as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) tests for cervical cancer screening and cervical pre-cancer treatment devices, critical tools needed for cervical cancer elimination,” Dr Barbosa added.
ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER: AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL
Cervical cancer continues to claim the lives of around 40,000 women in the Americas each year, but with appropriate strategies – HPV vaccination, screening and treatment – it could be eliminated as a public health issue. Cervical cancer is one of the more than 30 diseases and related conditions that PAHO aims to eliminate as part of its Disease Elimination Initiative.
To achieve this, three goals must be met by 2030: reaching 90 per cent coverage of vaccination against HPV in girls at 15 years of age; 70 per cent coverage of screening with high-precision tests in women at 35 and 45 years of age; and ensuring that 90 per cent of precancerous lesions and cases of invasive cancer receive treatment.
In the region, 48 out of 51 countries and territories have already introduced HPV vaccination, and half of them use the single-dose scheme, which increases uptake and coverage.
PAHO supports countries in accessing the HPV vaccine at affordable prices through its Revolving Fund and is promoting the adoption of HPV tests for screening, which most countries have already begun to implement.
Although many are still in the early stages, four countries have already incorporated these tests into their national programs.
Finally, PAHO, with support from WHO and UNITAID, has donated thermal ablation devices for the treatment of precancerous lesions in seven countries.
To mark World Cancer Day, PAHO will host a virtual seminar today featuring experts, health officials from Argentina and Ecuador, and key organizations discussing challenges and solutions in cancer care. The webinar will focus on improving access to oncology medicines and supplies in the region.
