The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on Caribbean and Latin American governments to prioritise access to essential cancer medicines, supplies, and equipment.
The call came on Tuesday, the eve of World Cancer Day.
According to PAHO, Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the Americas region, claiming the lives of more than 1.4 million people and resulting in more than 4 million new cases annually.
The organisation’s Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, emphasised the need to improve access to treatment.
“We must work toward a future where no one is without the cancer care they need to survive,” a PAHO release quoted him saying.
Barbosa declared that improving equitable access to these treatments is essential for better outcomes and quality of life.”
PAHO says while there has been progress, several barriers exist, including high costs, inefficient procurement systems, and limited distribution networks.
The organisation stated that addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including updated treatment protocols and pooled procurement to increase predictability and address the high price of cancer medicines.
In addition, PAHO expressed concern about inequality in childhood cancer treatment.
“In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is estimated that around 30,000 children and adolescents under the age of 19 will be diagnosed with cancer each year. Of these, nearly 10,000 will die from the disease,” it disclosed.
In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer receive a cure, but in many low- and middle-income countries, the cure rate is around 20%.
PAHO’s Regional Advisor on Cancer Dr Mauricio Maza explained that the gap in survival rates is mainly due to limited access to affordable, quality-assured medicines.
vaccines, vaccines, more vaccines, money. money, money
Eat healthy St Lucians …