The Republic of Moldova has received the first shipment of life-saving medicines for treating children with cancer, delivered under the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, a joint initiative founded by WHO and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States of America.
“Today marks a new beginning for childhood cancer treatment in the Republic of Moldova. WHO is proud to support the Government in implementing the Global Platform at national level and ensuring that all children have access to safe, high-quality medicines without interruption. Only by working together can we build stronger health systems and offer hope to families,” explained Dr Miljana Grbic, WHO’s Representative in the Republic of Moldova.
Each year, approximately 100 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed in the Republic of Moldova. The 5‑year survival rate for paediatric cancer is around 60%, which represents an improvement but remains below the regional average, especially in comparison to rates exceeding 80% in high‑income countries.
In 2025, 92 children in the Republic of Moldova were diagnosed with oncological diseases, with acute leukaemia being the most frequent diagnosis, followed by brain tumours.
In June last year, Moldova became the second country in the WHO European Region to join the Global Platform based on a demonstrated national commitment to strengthening paediatric cancer control and progress achieved under WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
This first shipment delivered to Moldova was procured through The United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Supply Division in Copenhagen, Denmark, and includes essential medicines used across the full spectrum of childhood cancers. It marks significant progress in ensuring continuous access to safe, effective and high‑quality treatment for every child living with cancer in the country.
“UNICEF remains firmly committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova in ensuring continuous access to essential paediatric medicines for the treatment of oncological diseases. Through our specialized Supply Division in Copenhagen, we ensure transparent, efficient and internationally compliant procurement processes, so that every child facing a cancer diagnosis can access safe, high-quality and timely treatment. Investing in the health of children is an investment in the future of the country, and UNICEF will continue to be a trusted partner in this effort,” explained Maha Damaj, UNICEF’s Representative in the Republic of Moldova.
The medicines will now be distributed to the paediatric oncology and haematology departments of the Institute of Oncology, the only hospital with a dedicated unit for children with cancer in the country.
“The receipt of this first batch of medicines for the treatment of paediatric cancer marks an important milestone in strengthening the health system’s capacity to respond to complex pathologies. In paediatric oncology, time matters. Any interruption can influence the evolution of the disease, but also the families’ confidence in our ability to be with them. From this perspective, the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the Global Platform goes beyond the dimension of a simple delivery. It involves the introduction of a stable supply framework, based on international standards of quality, traceability and monitoring,” explained Dr Emil Ceban, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova.
Driven by the National Cancer Control Programme (2016–2025), Moldova contributed to the launch of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer in 2018 and has been one of its focus countries since 2023. Participation in the Global Platform enhances collaboration among policy-makers, medical workers and civil society organizations.
“I want to thank the Government of Moldova, WHO and UNICEF, and our partners in the Global Platform for their leadership and collaboration in strengthening care and saving lives. The arrival of these medicines in Moldova brings us closer to a future where no child’s survival is determined by where they live. Every step we take together brings more children closer to the care they deserve,” added Dr Rodriguez-Galindo, Executive Vice-President of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
About the Global Platform
The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines was established in 2021 by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and WHO, jointly developed to complement the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization Strategic Fund as procurement agents. The Global Platform aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured cancer medicines to approximately 120 000 children in low- and middle-income countries in the next 5 to 7 years, with the expectation of scaling up supplies in the future. The Global Platform provides end-to-end support in consolidating global demand to shape the market, and assists countries with the selection of medicines, development of treatment standards and building of information systems to track the provision of care. Currently, the Global Platform works with 12 countries: Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Jordan, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Zambia.