The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) revealed a startling statistic on Wednesday, on the occasion of World Cancer Day, stating that over 185,000 new cancer cases are being reported in the country each year, emphasising the urgent need to shift towards personalised healthcare and targeted prevention strategies.
In a statement, the organisation detailed the nation’s challenging health landscape, noting that breast cancer is the most common malignancy, accounting for approximately 25 percent of all cases.
The PMA also drew attention to the disproportionately high rates of oral cancer, linked to the culturally ingrained use of tobacco. Alongside this, lung cancer is seeing a rapid increase, particularly in urban centers, attributed to deteriorating air quality.
Identifying the root causes of this crisis, the medical body pointed to four main factors: the widespread use of tobacco products like gutka, naswar, and paan; environmental hazards such as unregulated industrial waste and dangerous air pollution; viral infections, including Hepatitis B, C, and HPV; and consanguineous marriages contributing to hereditary diseases like colon and ovarian cancer.
The association stressed that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to healthcare is insufficient, stating that the barriers for patients in rural areas are starkly different from those in major cities. “Our fight must be as specific as our patients,” the PMA insisted.
To tackle this multifaceted challenge, the PMA put forward key policy recommendations for the government. It termed the establishment of a centralised cancer registry to track patient profiles and outcomes as indispensable, stating, “Without data, we’re fighting in the dark.”
The association also demanded decisive action against the sale of illicit and smokeless tobacco products and urged for measures to reduce the financial barriers that prevent patients from accessing life-saving screenings.
For the public, the PMA issued several precautionary guidelines. It recommended annual mammograms for women over 40 and regular cervical screening tests (Pap smears) to safeguard uterine health.
Furthermore, the organisation advocated for achieving 100 percent coverage of the Hepatitis B vaccine and expanding vaccine access to young girls to prevent virus-related cancers. It also encouraged a low-sugar diet and daily physical activity to combat obesity-linked malignancies.
The PMA reiterated its commitment to advocating for a healthcare system where treatment is a right. The association believes that by prioritising early-stage prevention and precise, personalised treatments over late-stage crisis management, every Pakistani can receive the dignity and specialised care they deserve.