Drugs used in the treatment of cancer for children have been brought. Nepal has received the first phase of essential medicines for the treatment of cancer in children under the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines on Sunday.
Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, informed that 10 types of medicines have been brought in the first phase. The World Health Organization Nepal Office said that more than 2,300 packs of cancer drugs used for children have arrived in Nepal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Nepal coordinated with 'St. Jude Children's Research Hospital' and purchased the medicine. The medicine has been provided to Nepal for free.
The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines was established in 2021 as a joint initiative of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and WHO to ensure access to life-saving medicines for children suffering from cancer around the world. The government has announced that cancer treatment for children under the age of 14 will be free from four hospitals with effect from the 1st of November.
Dr. Budhathoki, the spokesperson of the ministry, informed that children receiving treatment at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Patan Institute of Health Sciences and Bharatpur Cancer Hospital will receive this medicine free of charge.
According to WHO, about 900 new children are diagnosed with cancer in Nepal every year. Due to lack of medicine and various challenges, it is said that only one third of the children get proper treatment.
In 2020, Nepal became the priority of WHO's 'Global Initiative of Childhood' cancer. In 2022, Nepal became one of the six countries selected to participate in the Global Platform and the only member country in the South-East Asia region of the World Health Organization.
The Ministry of Health signed an agreement to conduct the program in March 2024. According to the agreement, Nepal will continuously receive 35 types of essential quality medicines free of charge for the treatment of children's cancer for five years.
According to WHO, the survival rate of children suffering from cancer in Nepal is currently less than 30 percent. While in high-income countries, the rate is more than 80 percent.
