Ensuring Quality and Equity in Cancer Treatment – UICC & ISOPP Joint Statement
BOPA have endorsed the UICC & ISOPP Joint Statement ‘Ensuring Quality and Equity in Cancer Treatment’
The alarming findings reported in The Lancet Global Health reveal that approximately one in six anticancer medication samples collected from public hospitals and private pharmacies across multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa failed to meet international pharmaceutical standards. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) levels varied dramatically—from as low as 28% to as high as 120% of what was claimed, well outside the acceptable 90–110% range.
UICC and ISOPP commitments:
- To urge governments to strengthen regulatory capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by investing in laboratory infrastructure, workforce training, and standardised surveillance systems.
- To call on governments and relevant institutions to provide oncology health workers with technical expertise to lead quality assurance efforts, from verifying procurement to monitoring treatment outcomes and pharmacovigilance.
- Advocate for coordinated policymaking and funding, ensuring medicine quality considerations are embedded within universal health coverage and procurement frameworks.
To find our more on the ISOPP and UICC statement please see the link below:
https://www.isopp.org/collaborations/uicc-isopp-joint-statement
