Children’s rights Protection and Advocacy

Systemic changes are always tricky, time-consuming, and expensive to pursue and fulfill — even more so during a full-scale war. However, high-quality treatment is impossible in the long run without comprehensive support for pediatric oncology centers and oncology departments, the professional development of medical professionals, and the protection of children’s rights.

As an expert in pediatric oncology and coordinator of families needs, the Foundation represents the interests of children with cancer at the state level and protects their rights. Together with public and charitable organizations, authorities, medical community, lawyers, and other partners Tabletochki strives to improve the quality of treatment of children with cancer in Ukraine.

Here are some significant achievements during the Foundation’s work:

– The Ministry of Health has signed an order to open intensive care units to family visits;

– The Ministry of Health has expanded the range of medicines purchased from the state budget funds under the Pediatric Oncology Program;

– The budget for foreign treatment of Ukrainians by 2020 has increased in 22 times compared to 2014;

– Together with NCSC “Ohmatdyt,” the Ministry of Health, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the charity foundation “Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry,” and other partners, we launched Ukraine bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors;

– Together with the Ministry of Health, Tabletochki conducted certification of the children’s oncology service: an audit of hospital beds and their capacities, the availability of medical equipment to optimize the work of hospitals, and develop a route for patients;

– The Foundation’s experts implemented sections on pediatric oncology in the National Cancer Control Strategy until 2030 and the Operational Plan for its implementation. For the first time in Ukraine, the National Strategy takes into account the needs of children with cancer;

– The specialties “pediatric oncologist” and “pediatric hematologist” are now combined in Ukraine — as in countries with high survival rates of children with cancer and blood diseases;

– Together with patient organizations, we helped purchase the expensive life-saving drug Erwinase at public expense.

Since 2013, all the work of the Foundation in children’s rights protection pro bono is supported by the law firm Asters.

In the fight against childhood cancer, “Tabletochki” also has the support of the international community. The Foundation is a member of several reputable associations and cooperates with the world’s best children’s hospitals:

– St. Jude — is a research hospital in the United States that has made children’s cancer curable in the 20th century;

– SickKids — is Canada’s leading hospital for children with severe diseases;

– Princess Máxima Center — the largest children’s oncology center in Europe with the highest quality treatment for children;

– King Hussein Cancer Center — is a leading hospital in Jordan and the Middle East for adults and children with cancer;

– Union for International Cancer Control — a union that unites ministries of health, research institutes, patient organizations in 170 countries to fight cancer worldwide;

– Childhood Cancer International is the world’s largest association of non-governmental organizations and patient communities fighting cancer;

– International Society of Pediatric Oncology — medical association that is dedicated to increasing knowledge about childhood cancer;

– St.Jude Global Alliance — unites 180 specialists and institutions from 68 countries working to improve the quality of medical care and increase the survival rate of children with cancer and blood diseases in our world.