Colombian President Iván Duque on July 23 enacted the “Jacobo Law” on childhood cancer. The bill states that the comprehensive care of children under 18 diagnosed or presumed to have cancer should be handled as a priority. The text is already in force.

The law states that:

• Effective access to onco-pediatric services for children under 18 diagnosed or presumed to have cancer should be guaranteed.

• The treatment of children suffering from cancer should be comprehensive, continued and a priority. The Social Security Health System should adjust the services offered to include the presumption of the disease, as well as diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliation, monitoring and control, and psychosocial and support for patients’ families.

• The Ministry of Health has a year as from the entry into force of the law to regulate the creation of a database on young people suffering from this disease. 

• Any doctor making a presumptive diagnosis of cancer in a minor, who is a beneficiary of the law, must include it in the aforementioned database, with the prior authorization of the minor’s guardians. The database may be consulted in real time by health institutions to locate patients and their files.

• The Executive Branch must launch a strategy to promote the treatment of childhood cancer within twelve months after the law comes into force. The initiative will be focused on providing tools to help with early detection of the cancer symptoms among children and facilitate their early entry into the health services.