funds were available. As the crisis continued, eligibility changed and was limited to patients whose cancer was considered curable. In an effort to treat more patients, coverage ended for bone marrow transplantation, which is an expensive treatment.
"The global humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis has focused mostly on meeting basic needs," Jeha said. "Funding for non-communicable diseases like cancer has been largely nonexistent. Our experience demonstrates what is possible."
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The other authors are Haifaa Khalifeh, Lama Zahreddine, Layal Bayram, Zeina Merabi, Miguel Abboud, Samar Muwakkit, Nidale Tarek and Hassan El Solh, all of the American University of Beirut Medical Center; and Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, M.D., chair of the St. Jude Department of Global Pediatric Medicine.
The study was funded by the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon and ALSAC.
Cancer