Amman, Feb. 15 (Petra) -- Jordan on Sunday launched the National Cancer Control Strategy (2026–2030), the Clinical Guidelines for Childhood Cancers, and officially acceded to the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.
The launch ceremony, patronised bt Princess Ghaida Talal, held on International Childhood Cancer Day, was organized by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The new strategy sets a comprehensive national framework to address cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, registry development, governance and research. It introduces unified treatment protocols and adopts updated clinical guidelines for childhood cancers covering patients up to the age of 19.
Speaking at the event, Bdour said Jordan has consistently prioritised cancer care, citing the expansion of specialised oncology services across public, military, university and private hospitals, as well as continued institutional support for national cancer programmes.
He announced that the government has allocated JD62 million as a first installment to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation to support treatment for 4.1 million people under the "Care" programme, with implementation beginning this year.
According to the National Cancer Registry's 2023 report, 11,000 cancer cases were recorded, including 9,099 among Jordanians. Breast cancer ranked first in incidence, followed by colorectal, lung, lymphoma and bladder cancers. Officials identified high obesity and tobacco-use rates as major contributing risk factors.
Jordan's accession to the global childhood cancer medicines platform will secure access to essential medicines for five years starting this year, strengthening the sustainability of treatment services for both Jordanian and non-Jordanian patients.
UN Resident Coordinator Sheri Ritsema-Anderson emphasised the need to translate commitments into tangible outcomes through expanded prevention and early detection efforts, while WHO Representative Iman Shankiti described the launch as a strategic shift toward an institutional, evidence-based national response that integrates policy, regulation and equitable access to quality-assured medicines.
//Petra// NQ
