Thinking Pink Breast Cancer

Expanding Equitable Access to Advanced Breast Cancer Care

The Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Critical Treatments (Humanitarian PACT) for Advanced Breast Cancer combines medicine access with diagnostic support, clinical training, and comprehensive patient services.

How to Help

The Max Foundation, ABC Global Alliance, and the Humanitarian PACT Partners Address the Urgent Needs of Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with outcomes differing sharply between high-income countries and lower- and middle-income countries. 

To address this inequity, The Max Foundation, in collaboration with the ABC Global Alliance, oncologists, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, and professional organizations, launched the Humanitarian PACT for Breast Cancer in 2022. This initiative seeks not only to expand access to life-extending medicines but also to strengthen health systems in resource-limited settings.

In October 2023, the first three patients began receiving HER2- HR+ advanced breast cancer treatment in Mozambique. The Humanitarian PACT is currently supporting these efforts, with plans to expand to additional countries.

There is a compelling unmet medical need, and we are grateful to our partners who share our deep commitment to improving outcomes in the most common cancer impacting women in the low-income world.

— Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO, The Max Foundation

The urgent needs of women living with advanced breast cancer has been overlooked. Together, we can reach those no one else is helping.

While your donation is designated for our breast cancer programs, it also helps us address other critical needs. This flexibility allows your gift to have the greatest impact possible.

The Max Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization (Tax ID 91-1893957) and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your emailed receipt as your official record.

Thinking Pink breast aware on a wall with a jersey
A community outpatient and immunization clinic with yellow and brown walls, where several women and children are seated on wooden benches

Overcoming Barriers to Breast Cancer Treatment in Sierra Leone

Listen as a panel of experts discuss the barriers patients face and how we can work together to improve access to treatment and support. Discover how we collaborate with partners like the ABC Global Alliance and Thinking Pink to provide no-cost access to medication and care while strengthening health systems.

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The Humanitarian PACT for Advanced Breast Cancer

The Humanitarian PACT is a multi-sector initiative providing medicines, diagnostic support, clinical training, disease management, and wrap-around patient services. The approach is scalable and offers a pathway to transform outcomes in resource-limited settings. Most importantly, the Humanitarian PACT highlights the power of global partnerships to advance health equity and bring hope to women everywhere.

Managing treatment for advanced breast cancer can pose unique challenges in low- and middle-income countries. Routine pathology, diagnostic exams, and standard medicines aren’t always available. Patients may also receive inadequate treatment, including supportive and palliative care, due to limited resources. This is on top of everyday challenges like locating transportation to medical centers and getting time off from work.

The Humanitarian PACT provides support to address these challenges. In addition to increasing access to treatment, preparations are underway to expand in-country teams, grow the physician network, and introduce programs to strengthen health systems like diagnostics and supportive care.

 

By helping women overcome these barriers and providing much-needed support, our goal is to restore dignity and hope to those who would otherwise be overlooked.

 

 

Members of the Humanitarian PACT, in partnership with The Max Foundation, plan to invest resources and/or their unique knowledge and capabilities to support the expansion of Max Access Solutions in providing access to treatment for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

Founding partners of the Humanitarian PACT for Advanced Breast Cancer include the ABC Global Alliance, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Cepheid, Lilly, and Novartis AG.

The Humanitarian PACT
Frequently Asked Questions

Key actions:

  • Site readiness assessments at 21 institutions across 16 low- and middle-income countries
  • Patient journey mapping to identify barriers
  • Training programs for healthcare providers
  • Wraparound patient support such as transportation and psychosocial care

Early Results

By August 2025, 590 breast cancer patients initiated treatment. The program is operating in 12 countries – Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Cambodia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, and Togo. Additionally, 69 healthcare professionals from 13 countries had received on-site or virtual clinical training