Kathmandu – A national symposium on childhood cancer care has called for stronger coordination, improved access to treatment and a more integrated national approach to childhood cancer in Nepal.
World Child Cancer (WCC), Ramesh Gupta Memorial Trust (RGMT) and TACC jointly organized the National Symposium on Childhood Cancer Care and Stakeholder Engagement in Kathmandu on 29 September. The event brought together representatives from the Government of Nepal, pediatric oncology hospitals, healthcare professionals, professional bodies, foundations, NGOs, parents, survivors and international partners.
Participants reviewed progress in pediatric oncology and identified continuing gaps in early diagnosis, timely referral, equitable access to treatment, essential medicines and diagnostics, supportive care, nutrition, psychosocial services, family support, survivorship and outcome measurement.
The symposium highlighted the need to give greater attention to childhood cancer within national health priorities and strengthen its integration into cancer-control and Universal Health Coverage efforts.
Participants called for a coordinated national approach with clear responsibilities, measurable targets and timelines. Key recommendations included strengthening community awareness and frontline healthcare-worker training, establishing rapid referral pathways, improving diagnostic services, and developing regional and shared-care networks to reduce barriers for families seeking specialized treatment.
A national assessment of childhood cancer centers was also recommended to review workforce capacity, diagnostics, medicines, treatment services, patient safety, supportive care and psychosocial services.
The symposium further emphasized quality and family-centered care, including reliable access to essential medicines and blood products, stronger pediatric oncology nursing capacity, chemotherapy and infection-prevention standards, nutritional and psychosocial support, and improved palliative and survivorship services.
Participants also called for stronger national data systems to monitor diagnostic delays, treatment abandonment, treatment completion, relapse, survival and quality of life.
The symposium recommended establishing or strengthening a National Childhood Cancer Coordination Mechanism involving government, hospitals, professional bodies, civil society, families, survivors and international partners, with an annual review process to track progress and accountability. hastage focus key word
