Cancer - Clinton Health Access Initiative

The Issue

Every year, nine and a half million people die of cancer globally. Seventy percent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries and are often from forms of the disease that are preventable or treatable, such as breast and cervical cancer. Lack of information and inadequate care mean that many cancer patients do not seek treatment until it is too late. When they do, healthcare facilities are frequently not equipped with the right tools, medications, or trained workers. Drugs and diagnostics are often poor quality and unaffordable. As a result, cancer is more than twice as lethal in low- and middle-income countries as it is in the United States.

CHAI's Approach

In 2015, CHAI began partnering with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to increase access to high-quality and affordable treatment, strengthen health worker capacity, and help governments establish plans to comprehensively manage the disease. In 2017, CHAI and ACS announced a groundbreaking agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturers, which was then expanded in 2020. With individual agreements with Mylan, Novartis, and Pfizer, Inc., the Cancer Access Partnership increases access to 20 lifesaving cancer treatments in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The agreements will result in significant savings on high-quality medicines, including chemotherapy regimens for the three cancers that cause the most deaths in Africa-- breast, cervical, and prostate. Learn more about the partnership here.

We are also working with governments to better understand their cancer treatment needs and expand services, as well as train health workers on effective treatments and diagnosis. We are helping countries to close the gap on cervical cancer, which is almost entirely preventable through vaccination and timely screening, by supporting them to include the HPV vaccine in the regular course of vaccinations that young girls receive.

Results

59%

savings on 20 essential cancer treatments

2x

more breast cancer patients treated in Ethiopia

Spotlight

Cancer Access Partnership expands in 2021 to increase access to treatment for 30 cancers in Africa and Asia

Our Work

An African male healthcare worker checks the fluid levels in the patients IV drip

March 8, 2021

CHAI and ACS announce agreement to expand Cancer Access Partnership

The expanded partnership will increase access to leading-edge cancer treatments in low- and middle-income countries including biologics and hormonal therapies.

Three delivery room nurses stand arm in arm outside a clinic. The woman in the middle wears a white uniform and the women on either side of her wear pink. All are smiling.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

October 27, 2020

Expanding breast cancer care across Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Partnering with the government, CHAI has supported a new approach to make quality breast cancer care available to patients across the country.

A nurse places her hand on the forehead of a cancer patient lying on a bed.

June 29, 2020

New agreements to lower prices and increase access to lifesaving cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa

Cancer Access Partnership is expected to result in a 59 percent savings on procured cancer medicines.

March 8, 2021

CHAI and ACS announce agreement to expand Cancer Access Partnership

The expanded partnership will increase access to leading-edge cancer treatments in low- and middle-income countries including biologics and hormonal therapies.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

October 27, 2020

Expanding breast cancer care across Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Partnering with the government, CHAI has supported a new approach to make quality breast cancer care available to patients across the country.

June 29, 2020

New agreements to lower prices and increase access to lifesaving cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa

Cancer Access Partnership is expected to result in a 59 percent savings on procured cancer medicines.

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions