City project

Improving access to paediatric cancer care in León

Developing capacities for the timely detection of childhood cancer and treatment-related complications
Project lead
Dr. Karina Sensayse Zamarripa Martínez
Implementation
Cycle I

The challenge

  • Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death in Mexican children, with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia being the most common and survival rates significantly lower (56%) than in high-income countries (up to 80%).
  • Due to the segmented and fragmented structure of the health system, significant barriers exist to the timely detection of childhood cancer. 
  • Limited early detection skills, inconsistent clinical management practices, and unclear referral pathways among healthcare providers contribute to delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment for paediatric cancer patients.

The goal

Strengthen the capacities and competencies of healthcare professionals in the field of childhood cancer through the use of technology, adoption of best practices and capacity building to increase timely access, quality of care and treatment.

The plan

Working with a multidisciplinary team of professionals and international experts to design and implement virtual training courses for the management of pediatric cancer at the primary healthcare level.

Outputs

  • Implement a distance training programme for the management of pediatric cancer at the primary healthcare level.

Team

Project Lead
Dr. Karina Sensayse Zamarripa Martínez, Pediatric Oncologist
Project Team
Dr. Karina Senyase Zamarripa Martínez – Pediatric Oncologist; Specialist in Research and Quality of Health Care
Dr. Alejandro Carmona, Pediatric Oncologist, High Specialty Medical Unit of Bajío, Gynecology and Pediatrics Specialty Hospital No. 48, Bajío National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)
Dr. Fernando Pérez Alonso, Pediatric Oncologist; Medical Director, High Specialty Medical Unit of Bajío, Gynecology and Pediatrics Specialty Hospital No. 48, Bajío National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)
Dr. Carlos Paque Bautista, Pediatric Hematologist; Head of Teaching and Research, High Specialty Medical Unit of Bajío, Gynecology and Pediatrics Specialty Hospital No. 48, Bajío National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)

Related projects

View all
León, Mexico

Connecting the Dots

A health system cannot deliver consistent, quality cancer care if its core operational components, data, financing, and inter-institutional communication, remain fragmented. In segmented health systems, providers often operate in silos, patient trajectories lose continuity, and catastrophic out-of-pocket costs push families into vulnerability. High technical capacity alone cannot overcome a system that fails to communicate.

León, Mexico

Raising the Standard

Quality cancer care relies on two clear foundations: diagnostic accuracy and multidisciplinary coordination. When pathology reports vary in completeness or clinical departments operate in isolation, patients face treatment delays, misaligned treatment plans, and variable clinical outcomes.

León, Mexico

Guiding the Journey

For many patients facing a cancer diagnosis in a fragmented health system, navigating that system can be as difficult as facing the diagnosis itself. Complex referral pathways, institutional silos, and misinformation create real barriers to care, contributing to missed appointments, delayed treatment initiation, and poorer clinical outcomes.

León, Mexico

Beyond Fragmented Inputs

In health systems across many countries, ambition in cancer care often outpaces what can be delivered on the ground. Patients face delayed diagnoses, treatment bottlenecks, or fragmented care pathways, not because skilled professionals or services are absent, but because the system connecting them is not yet functioning as an integrated whole.

León, Mexico

Patient Navigation Programme

Developing Patient Navigation Programmes to Improve Access to Cancer Care in Léon and Mexico City

León, Mexico

Health Systems and Management

Improving Cancer Care Continuity Through Collaborative Health Systems Coordination in León

León, Mexico

Capacity Development for radiotherapy in León

Improving Radiotherapy Quality in Léon

León, Mexico

Information Systems and Data in León

Strengthening Cancer Data & Information Systems in León for Coordinated and Quality Cancer Care

León, Mexico

Supporting cancer surgery specialization

Standardisation of Cancer Surgery and Multidisciplinary Surgical Management for Colorectal, Breast Cancer in León, Mexico

León, Mexico

Quality and Multidisciplinary teams

Advancing Quality Cancer Care Through Multidisciplinary Practice in León

León, Mexico

Increasing access to palliative care services

Increasing Access to Quality Palliative Care Throughout León’s Health System, and Developing a Comprehensive Training Programme

León, Mexico

Innovative financing models for breast cancer patients in Leon

Understanding Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Breast Cancer Patients to Improve Financial Coverage in the State of Guanajuato

León, Mexico

Improving the quality of pathology services in Leon

Improving Pathology Diagnosis in Léon

Cookie notice

This website uses its own and third-party cookies to improve the browsing experience. Read the Cookies Policy.