Pakistan joins global initiative to provide free cancer medicines for children

Pakistan has been selected to participate in a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which will begin offering free, essential cancer medicines for children this year, the health ministry announced on Thursday.

The initiative, known as the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, is designed to boost survival rates for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries by ensuring consistent and equitable access to life-saving treatments.

“It is a matter of pride that Pakistan has been chosen for this program in 2025,” said Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. “This marks a major step forward in providing free cancer medications for children next year.”

Kamal highlighted that over 8,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually in Pakistan, but many struggle to access timely and effective treatment due to limited availability of medicines, high costs, and weaknesses in the healthcare system. These gaps, he noted, lead to a significant number of preventable deaths.

The minister emphasized that Pakistan would make full use of the program’s resources, calling it a rare opportunity to confront local health challenges through global collaboration.

“This initiative gives Pakistan the chance to tap into international support to improve its capacity for delivering prompt and effective care,” Kamal stated.

Launched in 2022 with a $200 million commitment from St. Jude, the global platform works alongside WHO to help countries build sustainable drug supply chains, treatment protocols, and healthcare infrastructure for pediatric cancer care. Pakistan now joins a growing number of countries benefiting from the program as its reach continues to expand.