Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition

A UICC-led initiative pioneering access solutions for cancer medicines
ATOM Coalition: Medicines being dispensed to patient
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Concerted and coordinated action is essential to prevent people from dying prematurely of cancer when high-quality, affordable, and effective cancer medicines and treatment are readily available.  However, simply making cancer medicines available is not a guarantee that patients will receive the medicine they need when they need them.  

The work of the ATOM Coalition, led by UICC, extends beyond short term solutions: addressing longstanding barriers in healthcare systems that limit patient access to quality, timely cancer medicines, including registration of medicines in country, supply chain management, and the availability of pathology and diagnostic infrastructure.

The ATOM Coalition will support country governments and other stakeholders through locally relevant training, skill development and infrastructure strengthening aimed at building the country’s capacity to receive and use cancer medicines. By leveraging the resources and expertise within the Coalition and engaging with UICC members, the capacity strengthening programme will focus on four key areas: 

  1. regulatory affairs 
  2. supply chain management 
  3. pathology and diagnostic infrastructure 
  4. appropriate use with patients. 

A key focus area for the ATOM Coalition will be providing support to generic, biosimilar and originator manufacturers to register and supply quality-assured essential cancer medicines at affordable prices in ATOM Coalition target countries. The initial focus will be on increasing access to five generic essential medicines listed on the ATOM Coalition target medicines list for breast cancer and adjuvant therapies.  

Through defined sustainable medicine access pathways, the ATOM Coalition will focus on enabling access to patented medicines and new medicines in the pipeline from pharmaceutical companies over time. This includes voluntary licensing, indirect commercialisation, fostering economies of scale and extending the impact of existing donation programmes to ATOM Coalition target countries.
The ATOM Coalition was set up to ensure that low- and lower-middle income countries get the support they need to receive the essential cancer medicines where they are currently lacking, as well as the training on their use so that their availability becomes sustainable long term and addresses the specific needs of each country with respect to its cancer burden.
Anil D'Cruz
Dr Anil D'Cruz, Co-Chair of the ATOM Coalition Executive Committee and Director of Oncology at Apollo Hospitals in India

Target priority medicines

With guidance from the Medicines Expert Advisory group, the ATOM Coalition has established a target list of priority generic, biosimilar, and patented medicines currently on the WHO EML, with a focus on cancers with the highest incidence and mortality in LLMICs: breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, cervical and childhood cancers​. 

Download the complete list
Patient with a bottle of medicine

ATOM Coalition target countries

In its first phase, the ATOM Coalition will concentrate on strengthening access to essential oncology medicines in 46 LLMICs. In parallel, capacity building activities will commence in a subset of 10 of these 46 LLMICs based on analysis of a range of readiness criteria. Criteria include:

  • the current presence of UICC member organisations ​​​​​​​

  • the current presence of ATOM Coalition partners
  • health systems readiness
  • diagnostic capability
  • the number of essential medicines already listed on their national EMLs
  • the existence of other access programmes in the country and
  • the willingness of manufacturers to make their medicines available in those countries.

 

Africa
Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia

Americas
Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua

Europe
Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Rep., Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Eastern Mediterranean
Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Pakistan 

South and South-East Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia

Western Pacific
Cambodia, Lao, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines  

  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • El Salvador
  • Honduras
  • India (2 states)
  • Mongolia
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Senegal
  • Uganda
  • Zambia  

  • Egypt
  • Guatemala
  • Indonesia
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Tunisia

Learn more about the ATOM Coalition's work

ATOM Coalition Operational Plan 2023-2024
Author(s):
ATOM Coalition
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ATOM Coalition Capacity building analysis Exec Summary cover
Author(s):
ATOM Coalition
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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.

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