The ATOM Coalition partners with IDA Foundation to improve access to oncology medicines in LLMICs

The Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, established by UICC in May 2022, has joined forces with the IDA Foundation to further its mission in tackling the critical challenges of ensuring availability, affordability and appropriate use of oncology medicines in low- and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs), where some 28.4% of the 9.7 million global cancer deaths occur.

The ATOM Coalition, comprising over 40 partners, is dedicated to overcoming these challenges by facilitating access to essential cancer medicines and fostering sustainable healthcare solutions in 46 targeted LLMICs.

The strategic collaboration is set to leverage IDA Foundation's extensive experience in sourcing quality-assured medicines and its supply chain expertise, alongside ATOM's extensive oncology network and the in-country expertise of its civil society partners.

IDA Foundation, dedicated to bridging access gaps in healthcare, has furthered its commitment by introducing NCDconnect in December 2023, a platform is designed to improve the procurement and distribution of medicines for non-communicable diseseases (NCDs).

Amy Israel, Senior Advisor to the ATOM Coalition at UICC, and Harm Veerkamp, IDA’s Director of Procurement Services, both emphasised the partnership's potential to bring about significant progress in global cancer care. By pooling their resources and expertise, IDA Foundation and the ATOM Coalition are set to develop sustainable, affordable access strategies for cancer medicines and diagnostics, truly embodying the spirit of collaboration in the fight against cancer.

The partnership between the ATOM Coalition and the IDA reinforces the commitment of UICC and its partners to ensure that cancer care becomes universally accessible.