Experts say that approximately 10,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Pakistan. However, due to delayed diagnosis, limited treatment facilities, and financial difficulties, less than 30 percent of children survive.
A Health Wise session was organized by Indus Hospital and Health Network in which experts provided awareness about childhood cancer.
Experts stated that globally around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, with nearly 80 percent of cases found in low and middle income countries. In developed countries, the survival rate exceeds 80 to 85 percent, while in developing countries outcomes remain much lower due to lack of early diagnosis and specialized treatment.
Addressing the Health Wise session, Dr Naeem Jabbar, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Specialist, said that most childhood cancer cases are completely treatable with timely diagnosis and treatment. Unlike adult cancers, most childhood cancers do not have a clear cause and are not linked to lifestyle. With timely and appropriate treatment, the cure rate can reach up to 85 percent.
He explained that the major reasons for low survival in Pakistan include failure to recognize symptoms in time, inadequate supportive care, limited access to specialized treatment centers, shortage of trained specialists, and a high rate of treatment abandonment.
The most common types of childhood cancer include leukemia, lymphoma, brain and spinal cord tumors, bone tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and retinoblastoma. Treatment facilities such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are available and are effective if started on time.
On this occasion, Dr Saadia Muhammad, Head of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Dr Ahmer Hameed, Consultant Pediatric Hematology, and Dr Ghulam Qadir, Pediatric Oncologist were also present, while Dr Shumail Ashraf, Consultant Pediatric Oncology and Executive Director Medical Services Directorate, and Dr Muhammad Rafi Raza, Consultant Pediatric Oncology Psychosocial, along with counselors Shabnam and Nafeesa Dawood also participated.
Responding to journalists questions, Dr Shumail Ashraf said that late presentation of cases is the biggest challenge. Many families reach specialized centers when the disease has already become severe. Community level awareness is essential to improve survival outcomes.
Explaining the scope of services at Indus Hospital, Dr Ashraf said that approximately 1,000 new childhood cancer cases are registered each year in the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Department in Karachi. Since 2014, more than 16,000 children have been treated, while around 1,300 children are receiving treatment at any given time.
He also explained the global financial burden of cancer treatment. The average cost of one chemotherapy session is about 25 dollars, approximately 7,000 rupees, while the complete treatment cost for one child can reach 6,000 dollars, more than 1.6 million rupees. At Indus Hospital, all these services are provided completely free of cost to patients.
Dr Muhammad Rafi Raza addressed misconceptions about childhood cancer. He clarified that childhood cancer is not contagious and does not spread through contact. It is not caused by the child or the parents. Cancer does not always mean death. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment significantly increase the chances of recovery.
To improve access to treatment outside Karachi, Indus Hospital and Health Network introduced a shared care model to decentralize pediatric oncology services. Since 2023, 414 patients in Sindh have received joint treatment at shared care centers, while since 2021, 1,030 patients have received joint treatment at the Pediatric Oncology Unit in Quetta.
Through partnerships with public hospitals, Pediatric Oncology Units have been established at SKBZ Hospital Quetta, DHQ Badin, Mother and Child Hospital Nawabshah, Sheikh Zayed Children Hospital Larkana, Dr Zainat Aisani Institute Shikarpur, and Civil Hospital Karachi.
Indus Hospital and Health Network runs one of the largest free pediatric oncology programs in Pakistan, providing complete treatment regardless of a family’s financial status.
Health experts once again emphasized that timely diagnosis saves lives and appealed to parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and media professionals to play their role in raising awareness so that every child gets an equal and fair chance at life.
