“Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” Advocating for Essential Pharmacotherapy Access 

Pharmacotherapy is a critical component of cancer treatment, particularly for children with cancer, who often have weak immune systems. Subsequently, it is essential to provide sufficient high-quality medications to care for the kids.

In the middle and low income countries as well as some countries facing economic sanctions, it is a continuous challenge to supply required top-grade medications for vulnerable patients.

In this regard, MAHAK charity institute, an organization operating under sanctions, encounters two significant issues:

• Firstly, sanctions lead to the shortage of high-quality imported medications. Thereupon, it causes distress among families, who have children with cancer, and are forced to seek out medications on their own. Such conditions not only increase anxiety but also raise safety concerns. For instance, if a vial of medication breaks during transport, it poses risks not only to the individual who handling it, but also to those nearby.

• The first challenge inevitably leads to a second one: the search for alternative solutions. These alternatives often consist of insufficient inferior-quality medications, which are typically sourced from intermediary countries. This in turn, impacts the treatment efficacy. Essential medications such as Vincristine, Oncoaspar, Vinblastine, IVIG, Amphotericin B, and Cyclophosphamide are among the most critically needed medicines, but are frequently in short supply.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month serves as an important platform to bring up challenges and limitations that health professionals and experts encounter during childhood cancer management. Here, it has briefly shown some challenges in the area of pharmacy and medicine that MAHAK and similar organizations/associations are dealing with, due to sanctions.

It is vital to advocate for the rights of children, since they shouldn’t have to struggle with both cancer and medications shortage. Let us raise our voices in solidarity with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and call out: #NoMedicalSanctions.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Factsheet No.4:

Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, helps visualize tumors and assess their size and location in children.