Every child should have access to quality medical care

A world summit on investing in child welfare and the Second International Congress on Pediatric Oncology are under way in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with plenary sessions attended by heads of international organizations, ministers and experts. At a session on fair and sustainable child health systems, Melitta Jakab, head of the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care, spoke about early detection and treatment of common childhood diseases, immunization against infectious diseases, and pediatric oncology programs.

Uzbek Health Minister Eldor Adilov said child oncology and hematology have been developed as a separate specialized service in recent years. Under a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on May 19, 2025, a National Strategy for fighting childhood cancer for 2025-2030 was set, and a National Plan for 2026-2035 was developed and approved. In 2024, Uzbekistan joined the WHO Global Platform as one of the first pilot countries.

Officials from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Russia and Beijing also shared their experience. Participants stressed that every child, regardless of where they live or their economic situation, should have guaranteed access to quality and modern medical care.