Fewer Than 30 Per Cent Of Pakistani Children With Cancer Survive

Fewer than 30 per cent of children diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan survive, health specialists revealed during an awareness session, underscoring serious gaps in early detection and treatment access.

Medical professionals estimate that nearly 10,000 children receive a cancer diagnosis in Pakistan each year.

However, delayed identification of symptoms, inadequate medical infrastructure and financial constraints drastically reduce survival outcomes.

Experts addressed these concerns at a ‘Health Wise’ session on childhood cancer organised jointly by Indus Hospital and Health Network.

According to reporting by The Express Tribune, specialists noted that approximately 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer globally each year.

Around 80 per cent of these cases occur in low- and middle-income nations.

In high-income countries, survival rates range between 80 and 85 per cent.

Developing nations, however, record significantly lower rates due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialised care.

Dr Naeem Jabbar, Consultant in Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, emphasised that most childhood cancers remain treatable when diagnosed promptly.

He clarified that, unlike adult malignancies, paediatric cancers are rarely linked to lifestyle or environmental factors.

With timely and appropriate intervention, cure rates can reach up to 85 per cent.

Dr Jabbar attributed Pakistan’s low survival rate primarily to late symptom recognition, insufficient supportive care, a shortage of trained specialists and restricted access to advanced treatment centres. He also cited high treatment abandonment rates as a critical challenge.

The most prevalent paediatric cancers include lymphoma, brain and spinal tumours, bone cancers, leukaemia, soft tissue sarcomas, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour and retinoblastoma.

Doctors confirmed that chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy remain effective treatment modalities when initiated without delay.

Responding to media queries, Dr Shumail Ashraf, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist and Executive Director at the Medical Services Directorate, reported that the department in Karachi manages nearly 1,000 new cases annually.

Since 2014, clinicians have treated more than 16,000 children, while approximately 1,300 currently receive ongoing care.

Experts reiterated that early diagnosis saves lives. They urged parents, educators, healthcare professionals and the media to intensify awareness efforts and ensure that every child receives an equitable opportunity for survival.

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