Amsterdam/Geneva, 5 February 2024. IDA Foundation and the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition are happy to announce their strategic partnership. Following World Cancer Day’s theme ‘Close the Care Gap’, this collaboration marks a significant step toward addressing the challenges of availability, affordability, and appropriate use of oncology medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide (IARC, 2022), with 70% of global cancer deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, emphasising the need for improved access to cancer care globally. Many cancers are preventable and treatable, yet patients in LMIC’s are often diagnosed when it is too late, and little to no treatment is available, or affordable. Through this new partnership, ATOM and IDA aim to change that.  

Led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the ATOM Coalition is a global initiative comprising over 40 partners committed to addressing the challenges of availability, affordability, and appropriate use of oncology medicines in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs). The coalition's access model focuses on creating pathways for pharmaceutical companies, both innovator and generic, to deliver lifesaving and life-extending cancer medicines to 46 low- and lower-middle-income target countries. The overarching goal is to establish sustainable and affordable access strategies, ensuring broad access for patients in a robust market.

IDA Foundation, a social enterprise with a mission to bridge the gap in access to medicines and medical goods to countries in need, has become a Coalition partner of ATOM. Recognising the access gap in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) health products, IDA Foundation introduced NCDconnect in December 2023. Developed in collaboration with Solvoz as a technical expert, NCDconnect is a comprehensive and innovative partnership-driven ecosystem solution, encompassing a procurement platform for NCD medicines, medical supplies, and diagnostics. This unique approach aims to enhance the affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare products, addressing NCDs, including cancer. Through this innovative disease-country-focused approach, healthcare organisations can efficiently access a curated selection of NCD medicines, medical supplies, and diagnostics, fostering collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.

Creating synergies between ATOM and IDA Foundation / NCDconnect

The strategic partnership between IDA Foundation and the ATOM Coalition unfolds as a synergistic collaboration within the ATOM’s Medicines Access Pathways Model. By combining IDA Foundation's sourcing, quality and supply chain expertise in providing affordable, quality-assured medicines and medical supplies with ATOM's extensive oncology network and capabilities, the partnership seeks to address critical gaps in global health supply chains.

Harm Veerkamp, IDA’s Director of Procurement Services of IDA Foundation commented: "ATOM and IDA are aligned in their mission and seek practical approaches to improve global access to quality-assured cancer medicines and diagnostics. ATOM and UICC are uniquely placed to bring together the collective ecosystem around oncology to work on this, whereas IDA Foundation brings 50 years of experience and pioneering in sourcing quality-assured medicines and supply chain expertise. Combining this with Solvoz’ technical expertise on NCDconnect to realise access via a 24/7 online digital platform, we have fantastic teams that are able to make things happen for people living with cancer in LMICs”

Amy Israel, Senior Advisor, ATOM Coalition, UICC, added: "In the pursuit of closing the care gap on World Cancer Day, the strategic partnership between IDA Foundation and the ATOM Coalition signifies a big leap towards equitable access to oncology medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Together, we aim to make quality-assured cancer medicines and diagnostics more accessible, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that truly makes a difference for people facing cancer in LMICs." 

Stay tuned for updates as IDA Foundation/NCDconnect and the ATOM Coalition embark on this transformative mission.

For more information on UICC / ATOM and IDA Foundation:

ATOM Coalition: Led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition (ATOM Coalition) stands as a global initiative bringing together over 40 global partners committed to addressing the challenges of availability, affordability, and appropriate use of oncology medicines in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs). Also see: Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition | UICC

IDA Foundation: IDA Foundation’s mission is being the vital link that provides access to medicines and medical goods to countries in need. IDA Foundation created NCDconnect, a one-stop access-solution for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) medicines, medical supplies, and diagnostics procurement. The aim of the platform is to increase the affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare products to fight NCDs, including cancer. You can also visit the NCDconnect website: ncdconnect.org | Unifying health access