Philips Foundation partners with World Child Cancer to launch large-scale initiative to drive early detection of childhood cancers in Indonesia

Over multiple years, the partnership will introduce an innovative health app as a go-to resource for childhood cancer information – helping healthcare providers, parents, and the public to enable informed early diagnosis and appropriate referrals. Robust training programs will also be launched to upskill radiologists in childhood cancer detection using ultrasound and CT technology, through a series of e-learning modules and live training sessions.

Implementation of the initiative will be supported by Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands as well as local partners such as the Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing and the Indonesian Anyo Foundation.

“Every child deserves a fair chance at early, accurate cancer diagnosis and equal access to treatment and care – that’s what drives our mission. Through this multistakeholder partnership, we are bridging the gap in childhood cancer care in Indonesia – increasing awareness, driving earlier diagnosis and treatment, and improving survival rates,” said Welmer Blom, Managing Director World Child Cancer-The Netherlands.

Indonesia faces a significant challenge with childhood cancer detection and treatment. It is estimated that over 10,000 children develop cancer each year [2]. Yet only an average of 2,000 cases were recorded between 2021 to 2023 – largely due to gaps in awareness, access to care, and a shortage of pediatric oncologists, particularly in remote areas [3].

“Every year, about 61,000 new cases of childhood cancers are diagnosed in South-East Asia Region, yet nearly half go undiagnosed. These are not just numbers – but children with their whole lives ahead of them [4],” stated Margot Cooijmans, Director of the Philips Foundation. “This is why we are deeply committed to reducing health inequality and give more children in Indonesia the chance to grow up healthy. By harnessing our technological expertise and fostering strong collaborations with our local partners, we aim to create a profound and lasting impact on childhood cancer care.”

The initiative aims to equip healthcare providers, parents of childhood cancer patients, and the general public with robust, up-to-date information and best practices tailored to their specific needs through an innovative health app. Healthcare providers, such as general practitioners, pediatricians and surgeons, will benefit from features such as a symptoms checker, supportive care advice, and an updated patient referral system. A built-in chat function will connect users with local pediatric oncologists, and e-learning modules on pediatric oncology will also be made available to support continued professional development.

Parents will be equipped with the knowledge and support they need for their child's treatment. The app provides detailed information and videos on the various types of childhood cancers, treatment options, self-management advice, and hospital contact numbers. The general public will also have access to educational resources, aiding early cancer detection through heightened awareness and guidance on symptom recognition.

Additionally, customized e-learning modules designed by Princess Máxima Center radiologists will be accessible through the app. These modules will reinforce imaging techniques, offer best practices for using ultrasound and CT equipment, and provide guidance on differentiating between benign and malignant masses.

Dr. Judith Spijkerman, Princess Maxima Center, said that “Our mission is to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life. Together with pediatric oncology centres across the globe, we build and share our expertise to enable this. It is wonderful to see that with this initiative we can share our expertise in advanced imaging techniques and pediatric oncology care, and improve the outcome for childhood cancer in Indonesia through receive timely and accurate diagnoses”.

This collaboration addresses the disparities in childhood cancer care. The partnership between the Philips Foundation and WCC, alongside the multistakeholder collaboration with the Princess Máxima Center and esteemed healthcare institutions in Indonesia, demonstrates the power of collective action in tackling complex healthcare challenges and improving people’s lives.