Breast cancer treatment costs put Pakistani patien...

Summary

• KARACHI: The rising cost of cancer treatment is emerging as a major barrier for patients in Pakistan, with health experts warning that expensive medicines, delayed diagnosis and financial difficulties are preventing many women from accessing or completing potentially life-saving care.
• The concerns were raised at the opening of BreastCon 2026, a two-day conference organised by the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi, where specialists discussed the growing burden of breast cancer and the challenges patients face in accessing modern medical facilities.
• The conference placed affordability and early detection at the centre of the national breast cancer debate, with specialists calling for practical measures to ensure that more patients can access treatment when they need it most.

AI Generated Summary

KARACHI: The rising cost of cancer treatment is emerging as a major barrier for patients in Pakistan, with health experts warning that expensive medicines, delayed diagnosis and financial difficulties are preventing many women from accessing or completing potentially life-saving care.

Pakistan recorded an estimated 43,721 new breast cancer cases and 20,039 deaths from the disease in 2024, according to figures shared by health experts. Women account for 44 per cent of all reported cancer cases, highlighting the need for greater awareness, early detection and affordable treatment.

The concerns were raised at the opening of BreastCon 2026, a two-day conference organised by the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi, where specialists discussed the growing burden of breast cancer and the challenges patients face in accessing modern medical facilities.