The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a program to provide free cancer drugs to children in low- and middle-income countries.

The first shipments have reached Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with more heading to Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia. This year, the program will help 5,000 children in 30 hospitals.

Childhood cancer survival rates in poor countries are below 30%, compared to 80% in wealthy nations. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the need for better access to treatment.

WHO plans to expand to 50 countries in five to seven years, reaching 120,000 children. Each year, 400,000 children develop cancer, mostly in resource-limited areas.

About 70% of childhood cancer deaths in these regions result from lack of proper treatment. WHO will continue free drug distribution after the pilot phase and is working on long-term sustainability.

The program is a joint effort with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which has committed $200 million.

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