Closing the childhood cancer survival gap: Working with an NGO

Abstract

The survival rate for pediatric cancer exceeds 80% in high-income countries, yet it drops to below 30% in low- and middle-income countries. Most pediatric cancers can be treated using generic medications, surgery, and radiation, all of which are accessible in these countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to increase the global survival rate to over 60% by 2030. In 2018, Japan Heart, an international NGO, established a 40-bed pediatric medical center in Cambodia, offering free treatment for pediatric cancers, especially solid tumors. With the support of Japanese pediatric surgical teams and pathologists, local surgical techniques have been enhanced, leading to treatments based on more accurate diagnoses. Remote consultations with Japanese experts, initiated in 2020, have improved treatment planning and contributed to the development of local medical staff. There are ongoing efforts to collaborate with other pediatric cancer treatment facilities in Cambodia to improve national survival rates. In 2022, the center treated approximately 100 pediatric cancer patients annually, achieving a survival rate of over 50%. A new hospital is planned to open in 2025 in the suburbs of Phnom Penh to serve patients from Cambodia and neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Laos.

Participating in this NGO, which uses Japan’s expertise to bridge the pediatric cancer survival gap internationally, has brought immense personal satisfaction and joy. These efforts also facilitate the career development of physicians, including young doctors.