Summary
- Many people die because cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage due to the limited number of hospitals, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of early diagnosis, remote locations, and unaffordable treatment.
- There are several hospitals in Pakistan that provide treatment for cancer patients.
- The government should launch awareness campaigns, encourage regular medical check-ups, improve healthcare facilities, provide affordable treatment for cancer patients, appoint more doctors in local hospitals, and supply modern machinery to government hospitals.
By Asma Qayyum
Cancer has become one of the most serious health challenges facing the world today. It is one of the deadliest diseases. Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with different types of cancer, and many lose their lives.
Cancer has emerged as a severe public health crisis in Pakistan, with nearly 190,000 new cases and 120,000 related deaths reported annually, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2022. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that nearly 10 million people died from cancer worldwide in 2024.
The main causes of cancer include smoking, tobacco use, unhealthy eating habits, pollution, excessive exposure to harmful sunlight, certain infections, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic factors. Many people die because cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage due to the limited number of hospitals, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of early diagnosis, remote locations, and unaffordable treatment.
There are several hospitals in Pakistan that provide treatment for cancer patients. These include Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres in Lahore and Peshawar, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) hospitals, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi, which offers advanced oncology care, and Indus Hospital in Karachi, which provides free cancer treatment. In addition, there are some local hospitals with limited facilities and fewer doctors, such as Cancer Hospital Quetta on Brewery Road in Quetta and KIRAN Hospital in Karachi.
The government should launch awareness campaigns, encourage regular medical check-ups, improve healthcare facilities, provide affordable treatment for cancer patients, appoint more doctors in local hospitals, and supply modern machinery to government hospitals. It should also encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid habits that increase the risk of cancer.
I hope the government will spread awareness and improve cancer prevention and treatment throughout our country.
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