Stakeholder level | Policy option | Goals |
Challenge 1: Weak data systems and evidence for political prioritisation and public awareness | ||
National | Formal inclusion of childhood cancer in national NCD policy and planning, for example, broadened scope of inclusion of childhood cancer in National Cancer Control Strategy | Catalyse opportunities for greater health system prioritisation of childhood cancer |
National Institutional | Development of streamlined national and institutional cancer registration and data management systems | Improve data collection and management procedures for evidence-based policy and planning |
National | Strengthen systems for forecasting paediatric cancer drug needs | Minimise procurement inefficiencies Evidence-informed procurement |
National Institutional | Implementation of a logistic management system | Enables real-time tracking of institutional tenders, stocks, and prices Inform procurement and supply management premised on evolving patterns of use and need. |
National Institutional Community | Increase public awareness of childhood cancer through national health promotional campaign | Increase public awareness Improve early recognition/diagosis of childhood cancers Elevate priority of childhood cancers on policy agendas |
Investment in Ghana Cancer Board, National Steering Committee for NCDs and relevant stakeholders to advance advocacy for policy reform | ||
Challenge 2: Cancer drug affordability, availability and quality constraints | ||
International | WHO pre-qualification of essential childhood cancer drugs | Streamline regulatory processes for importation of quality generic cytotoxic and supportive care drugs for childhood cancer |
National Private pharmaceutical | Consolidate existing national pricing control strategies through regulatory reform | Improve drug pricing and affordability Leverage economies of scale across institutions to improve affordability Increase adherence/minimise treatment abandonment |
Decrease taxation on imported drugs | ||
Coordinated public procurement of childhood cancer drugs | ||
Inclusion of childhood cancer in national health insurance scheme benefits package | ||
National | Expedited FDA approval processes | Minimise stock-outs through decreased order latency and product diversification Enhance affordability |
Generic substitution as a policy directive |
FDA, Food and Drugs Authority; NCD, non-communicable diseases.