Expanding access to cancer medicines in Zambia
The UICC-led ATOM Coalition’s in-country mission has resulted in a three-year action plan to strengthen access to essential cancer medicines in Zambia.
The ATOM Coalition’s in-country mission in Lusaka, Zambia, where partners agreed on a three-year action plan to strengthen access to essential cancer medicines.
HIGHLIGHTS
- In November, the ATOM Coalition Secretariat convened with critical stakeholders to establish a formal action plan to deliver on the partnership formed with the Ministry of Health in 2024.
- The convening resulted in a three-year national plan that will expand Zambia's access to critical cancer medicines.
- In-country partners agreed that strengthening cancer data quality by integrating registries and systems is an urgent priority to improve budget forecasting for procurement.
In November in Lusaka, Zambia, the Secretariat of the UICC-led Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition met with representatives from the Ministries of Health and Finance, the national procurement agency, the Cancer Diseases Hospital, and individuals with lived experience of cancer.
The objective was to agree on practical steps to expand access to safe, affordable oncology medicines, formalised via an action plan. Priority actions for the next three years focus on cancer data systems, diagnostics, procurement, and the safe introduction of innovative cancer treatments.
"Zambia is strategically positioned to achieve significant improvements in cancer care. The new cancer centre planned for Ndola is expected to double the country’s treatment capacity by 2026. Livingstone is also targeted to have a cancer centre in the next few years. Radiotherapy services, a critical component of cancer treatment, will finally soon be available in both Ndola and Lusaka."
– Udie Soko, CEO of the Zambian Cancer Society, focal point for the ATOM Coalition in Zambia
Despite these advances, urgent challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that all cancer patients can access affordable and safe oncology medicines.
To address these challenges, in-country partners agreed on the urgent need to strengthen cancer data quality to improve forecasting processes and in turn optimise the budget allocation for procurement of oncology medicines, including integrating hospital cancer registries and laboratory information systems.
Zambia representatives and the ATOM Coalition also agreed on a coordinated approach to incorporate innovative cancer therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors within key private and public cancer centresacross the country. This would entail strengthening clinical readiness, identifying suitable patients, refining care pathways, and facilitating ongoing provider training.
“Zambia has shown exceptional leadership and commitment to improving access to essential cancer medicines.This action plan represents a major step forward, with partners uniting behind a practical, country-led plan that will strengthen systems, expand diagnostic capacity, and ensure the safe delivery of essential cancer therapies to those who need them most.” - Anna Cabanes, Senior Technical Advisory for Country Support, ATOM Coalition.
Last update
Wednesday 28 January 2026
