CURE’s efforts in China will be directed predominantly by Chinese medical, business, and government representatives. This will be done by a National Chinese Childhood Health Council who will recommend projects that will lead to a national, coordinated health plan for children. While the design focuses on cancers of children and adolescents, the breadth of the programs will also be able to care for most other serious diseases as well. This principle has been endorsed by China’s Ministry of Health Director of Child Care and is in process of development.

The Chinese national council will then provide direction for development of a national, coordinated child and adolescent health care system to CURE representatives in China and United States. CURE will then be the conduit between an association of all major organizations that are currently assisting nations worldwide who will in a cooperative plan make available to China the necessary medical resources needed. CURE will administrate this process and develop the necessary funding both in the United States and China to supplement resources available in China.

 
This process is illustrated in the following:

CURE has begun its initial project in China at Beijing Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital staff is being trained and augmented to become a world-level care system for childhood cancer, a Center of Excellence.

The model for a national plan is shown in the following schematic diagram:

In order to treat the estimated 50,000 new cases of cancer in Chinese children each year, China would be divided into 135 regions. Each would utilize a Center of Excellence that would serve that region as its most advanced diagnosis, treatment, and research center. When developed throughout the country they would provide a national cooperative system that would establish common protocols for all aspects of childhood cancer, conduct studies to continue improvement in treatment methods and agents, provide opportunities for research utilizing shared materials and data, and assist China in its registration and statistical information. This is similar to those already developed elsewhere and shown to be the optimum way to continue increasing the cure rates of these diseases. 

Since all of cases cannot be treated at the center, the initial diagnosis would begin with detection of suspected cancers at the community level, move to the regional hospitals in the area, and if necessary to the Center of Excellence. Close communication between all levels would make possible optimum care at the level required, with many being completely cared for at the regional level. Issues of difficult diagnosis or need for the most aggressive therapy would be provided by the Center of Excellence. Education of the first level medical care personnel and families would be provided to the level of care that was available. 

Several hospitals, mainly in the eastern areas of China, have already developed much of the required staff and facility to treat most types of childhood cancers. These centers are already training other hospitals. As China develops sufficient Centers of Excellence, the country itself will provide the necessary training and support to complete a national care program.

The CURE program is focused upon training and resource development required for care. The costs for patient care will still be the responsibility of families and the Chinese government.