WHO/Europe will organize a dedicated session on 16 September 2026 at the 58th Annual Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP 2026) – a multidisciplinary global congress dedicated to childhood and adolescent cancer, taking place from 15 to 18 September 2026 in San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
The session, “Innovating paediatric cancer care in Eurasia: Novel interventions and training technologies for a resilient workforce”, will explore how capacity-building and cross-regional partnerships can help strengthen paediatric cancer care across the WHO European Region and beyond. Key themes will include effective interventions and training approaches that address workforce challenges and support better outcomes for children living with cancer. The session will also examine how global and regional collaboration can quickly help build professional expertise, strengthen access to essential medicines and support the integration of paediatric oncology and palliative care.
Learning from countries and partners
Speakers at the WHO/Europe session will present perspectives from WHO and partner organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, SIOP Asia, the Eurasian School of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology and others.
Representatives from Armenia and Uzbekistan will share their countries’ experiences in implementing policies and practices to improve childhood cancer care at all levels of a health system, highlighting lessons learned and approaches of broader regional relevance.
Session topics
The WHO/Europe session will cover the following topics:
- workforce barriers and opportunities in childhood cancer care across the WHO European Region
- policies and systems-based science approaches for scaling and sustaining impact
- cross-regional and interregional expertise exchange on childhood cancer and palliative care projects
- digital training through innovative platforms
- combining national commitment with global partnerships to transform childhood cancer care.
Showcasing WHO global cancer initiatives and case studies
The session will also highlight the role of global initiatives, including the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) and the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GPACCM).
To showcase the potential of these initiatives, Uzbekistan will present a case study on its work within the GICC and GPACCM frameworks, in collaboration with WHO, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Islamic Development Bank and other partners. This collaboration has contributed to Uzbekistan’s emerging role as an academic hub for paediatric oncology and palliative care. The format will include panel presentations followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A.