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UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Bridging the Gap: Transforming Knowledge into Action

July 8-12, 2006, Washington, DC, USA

Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 2:10 PM
18-3

The Effect of a National Program for Childhood Cancer from Medically Uninsured Mexican Children

Roberto Rivera-Luna, M.D.1, R. Rodriguez-Suarez, MD2, MJ Diaz-Jimenez, MPH2, JL Hernandez-Olvera, MD3, JA Fernandez-Ortiz, Actuary4, E. Herrera-Basto, MD4, H. Peña-Jimenez, Attorney4, and M. Juan, MD5. (1) Technical Coordinator National Council for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Cancer., Insurgentes Sur 3700.C, Mexico City, 04530, Mexico, (2) National Council for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Cancer., Mexico City, Mexico, (3) National Health Education, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico, (4) National Commission for Social Protection in Health, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico, (5) General Health Council, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico

Objective: Thirty million children have no medical protection from any of the Health Systems available in Mexico. Officially it was declared by the Federal Government on January 6, 2005 that all children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) would have complete medical coverage-care for these patients. The funds available are from Federal and .10 ¢(US Dlls) tax for each cigarette pack sold in Mexico. We present the preliminary data of children with ALL under the new Federal Finance program for Childhood Cancer.

Methods: Federal government agencies and federal medical institutions developed a treatment protocol for ALL. From January 2005, a National Hospital Accreditation process was carried out.

Results: Twenty-seven institutions from 23 states (out of 31 states and the Federal District) were accredited to treat children with cancer. From January to October 2005, 879 untreated children with ALL were registered. Male gender predominates (55.7%) and age range was from 8 months to 18 years old with a median of 9 years. Treatment risk category assigned was 65% as standard risk (SR) and high risk (HR) (35%), however not all institutions are currently running cytogenetic and/or molecular studies in order to assign other risk factors. The preliminary data show an early mortality of 6% (mostly HR), the majority to infections. It is to early to conclude results of the study, but less than 1% have abandon treatment. Next January 6th 2006 the remaining leukemia's of childhood and solid tumors will start to be sponsor in the same fashion.


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