The Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition: Enhanced in-Country Coordination for Sustainable Access.

Abstract

The disparity in access to essential cancer medicines between less and more affluent countries is a major source of inequities in access to cancer care. In May 2022, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) launched a new initiative, the Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition (ATOM Coalition), bringing together over 40 organisations from the private and civil society sectors to cooperate and combine resources to address key barriers of access to cancer medicines in low- and lower-middle income countries. While the ATOM Coalition is engaged in global efforts to make cancer medicines more accessible, the initiative also includes a country-level support programme to enhance coordinated locally-led action and accelerate access. This is supported by a transparent governance and organisational structure as well as a working framework with governments and other key stakeholders to assess the current capacity and develop tailored responses that can lift and/or relax some of the identified barriers through joint collaborations with ATOM Coalition partners.