This webinar is designed to give visibility to the scale up plans of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (Global Platform), especially for new countries interested in joining this first-of-its-kind initiative, jointly founded by the WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in collaboration with UNICEF and PAHO Strategic Fund.
Expert speakers will share the experiences of participating countries and milestones reached by the Global Platform globally and provide guidance to interested countries on the application process including information required, selection criteria and timelines. The dialogue will outline the application process and invite questions from those in attendance.
Webinar recordings and materials
The webinar is now available for viewing. You can also download the presentation slides.
To learn more about the call for applications for new countries to join the Global Platform, please follow this link.
Opening remarks by Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, WHO
Opening remarks by Dr Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Director, St. Jude Global, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Background
The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (Global Platform) aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). At present, the Global Platform is working with 12 participating countries: Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Jordan, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Zambia.
The Global Platform supports countries in preparing their systems and facilities to safely and effectively receive, distribute, store, and administer cancer medicines. Initial results are evident. From February 2025, the first shipments of essential childhood cancer medicines started to progressively reach health facilities in the first cohort of six pilot countries. Efforts with a second cohort of six additional countries are underway. As reported by the Global Platform in June 2026, close to 1.4 million standard units of medicines had been delivered to reach over 4,000 children with cancer in 30 facilities.
The positive impact of the Global Platform in countries goes beyond the delivery of medicines. In addition to the supply of medicines and accompanying country systems strengthening, the Global Platform’s long‑term aim is to shape the global childhood cancer medicines market, so that essential medicines become reliably available, affordable, and sustainable across countries.
The current 12 countries participating in the pilot phase of the Global Platform are taking bold steps to improve access to life-saving cancer medications for children and to advance equitable health outcomes for pediatric cancer patients in alignment with SDG 3.2, 3.4 and 3.8 of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, especially in LMIC settings. Together, St. Jude, WHO, partner organizations, and these 12 countries are making strides towards achieving the Global Platform’s goals.
Webinar objectives
- Provide an overview of the Global Platform and its progress to date
- Share experiences and lessons learned from participating countries to inform prospective applicants
- Explain the application process, including eligibility requirements, selection criteria and timelines
Agenda:
- Opening remarks: inequities in childhood cancer care and the significance of the Global Platform
- Progress: from concept to impact and scale up
- Country insights: The journey to becoming a Global Platform Participating country (Session A presented by Mongolia, Session B presented by Ecuador)
- Announcement: Global Platform call for applications for new countries
- Closing remarks
