Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition
A UICC-led initiative pioneering access solutions for cancer medicines
The Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition (ATOM Coalition), led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), is a global initiative in collaboration with over 45+ partners across the private and civil society sectors. It aims to reduce cancer-related suffering and deaths by addressing the barriers to availability, affordability, and appropriate use of oncology medicines in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs).
Building on UICC’s long-standing advocacy for the global availability of cancer medicines, the ATOM Coalition was created under UICC’s leadership in 2022 to further drive collective, coordinated action across the public, private and civil society sectors at the global and country level.
The access challenge
The global cancer community faces a stark challenge: in 2020, the number of new cancer cases worldwide reached almost 20 million and the estimated number of cancer-related deaths tipped over 10 million. A staggering 70% of total cancer mortalities occur in low- and middle-income countries, underscoring a significant disparity in the lack of access to essential oncology medicines and diagnostics. In fact, more than 50% of the cancer drugs on the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines List (WHO EML) are unavailable in LMICs. Without access to them, people diagnosed with cancer face drastically reduced health outcomes and quality of life.
Limited access to essential cancer medicines in LMICs stem from a number of complex issues, including fragile health systems, insufficient infrastructure, a lack of regulatory frameworks, inefficient procurement practices and supply chains, inadequate diagnostics and pathology, and a lack of trained health professionals. These are key barriers that the ATOM Coalition will focus on.
Transforming access to cancer medicines
By channeling the diverse expertise and experience of UICC's global network and Coalition partners to harness collective resources for greater scale and efficiency, the ATOM Coalition is innovating a new approach to access to cancer medicines in LLMICs.
This approach complements, enhances and amplifies the impact of existing access programmes and supports their growth by developing synergies and overcoming shared challenges. Ultimately, these coordinated efforts will help to improve connectivity between different access initiatives for maximum impact.
ATOM Coalition goals
- Increase the availability, accessibility and affordability of priority cancer medicines, diagnostics and supportive care across 6 priority cancers
- Strengthen country capacity to safely, appropriately and sustainably integrate priority cancer medicines into national health systems
Nationally led, globally supported
Our approach focuses on:
Driving results through coalition governance
ATOM’s governance model supports coordinated, country-led action across the oncology ecosystem. UICC serves as the ATOM Coalition Secretariat, providing strategic leadership and coordination at global and country levels, while acting as a neutral facilitator rather than a direct implementer. Through the Secretariat, ATOM maps country needs, identifies opportunities and helps align partner expertise across medicines access, diagnostics, technical assistance, capacity strengthening, financing and health system readiness.
A quarterly Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and oversight on ATOM’s direction, priorities and performance, with particular attention to country action, demand generation, partner mobilisation and patient impact. The Board also supports accountability to countries and patients, advises on risks and course correction, and helps strengthen resource mobilisation and partnerships.
This is complemented by light, fit-for-purpose Expert Advisory Groups, convened as needed to provide independent technical input on priority areas such as medicines and diagnostics.
Together, the Secretariat, Advisory Board and Expert Advisory Groups help align diverse actors, enable structured knowledge exchange and ensure partner efforts are complementary, targeted and connected to country-led implementation.
Join the ATOM Coalition
Be part of the UICC-led efforts to reduce suffering and deaths caused by cancer in low- and lower-middle income countries through improved access to and use of essential cancer medicines.