The Lancet study calls for a unified cancer registry in Pakistan
Titled 'Cancer Registries in Pakistan: A Scoping Review' the study was co-authored by experts from Aga Khan University (AKU), University of Wisconsin, and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Pakistan faces a substantial cancer burden, with an estimated 185,748 new cancer cases and over 118,631 cancer related deaths recorded in 2022. Yet, the absence of a national cancer registry means that cancer data collection remains fragmented, inconsistent and incomplete, making it harder to plan and implement effective public health efforts.
'Cancer registries are crucial, they provide population-based data on cancer trends and treatment efficacy, and enable health authorities to monitor disease patterns, guide policymaking, and allocate resources to establish an effective national cancer control programme,' expressed Dr Zehra Fadoo, Chair of AKU's Department of Oncology.
The research study identifies 17 cancer registries in Pakistan, with wide variations in scope and geographical coverage. Currently, only 19 of Pakistan's 129 cities contribute data to at least one registry. Many registries face operational challenges, limited funding, and inconsistent data collection methods. The study has identified strengths and weaknesses of different registries, providing information that can be used to plan for cancer data aggregation and future research studies.
'Building a national cancer registry isn't something one institution can do alone,' explained Sehar Salim Virani, from the Departments of Surgery at AKU and the University of Wisconsin. 'It will require coordinated action, government leadership, and institutional collaboration. This paper is a first step towards that goal. By mapping what exists, we can now move towards what is needed. It's time to turn fragmented efforts into a unified national response.'
One of the registries profiled in the study is the Aga Khan University Cancer Registry (AKU-CR), a hospital-based registry established in 2009. AKU-CR has an inbuilt international coding manual that serves as the foundation for measuring the cancer burden in Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Pakistan.
The purpose and goal of AKU-CR is to collect, maintain, and disseminate the highest quality cancer data that will contribute towards cancer prevention and control—improving diagnoses, patient care, treatment, survival, quality of life and establish background for research. So far, using USA-based CNExT software, the registry has documented over 71,900 cases. At AKUH, the clinical aspects of the Cancer Registry are overseen by the AKUH Cancer Committee with trained registrars, ensuring high standards in data quality and clinical relevance.
Pakistan has a National Action Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases, control and health promotion (NAP-NCD) which includes cancer prevention and control. The Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination nominated the Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC) as the focal point for Cancer Registry in Pakistan, and in 2020, a National Steering Committee was notified with members from all major cancer registries and data centers. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in achieving complete, consistent, and uniform data collection.
'Pakistan has long struggled with adopting national cancer registration,' noted Syed Nabeel Zafar, from the Department of Surgery and Carbone Cancer Centre at the University of Wisconsin. 'With the rising incidence of cancers in Pakistan, a national cancer registry is essential to be able to address this growing problem. In lieu of national a registry many institutions across Pakistan have pitched in and developed cancer registries at local or regional levels. Government buy-ins are needed to develop a national level registry. While this requires effort and resources, it is not very expensive, and would be very feasible to do in Pakistan'
A national cancer registry is vital to enhance cancer surveillance and inform public health action in Pakistan, where cancer rates continue to rise. This will require existing registries to work together and partner with stakeholders across both the public and private sectors to build a comprehensive, sustainable system that serves the entire population.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business Recorder
‘First AI-powered physician assistant' launched
KARACHI: Pioneering health tech firm, Boston Health AI, announced the launch of Hami, the world's first AI-powered physician assistant, designed to optimise physician efficiency and enable personalised, evidence-driven and compassionate patient care at scale. Based on human-cantered design and intelligent automation, Hami is currently in active deployment across multiple hospitals in Pakistan and will expand globally over the coming year. Built on the belief that expert-level healthcare should be available to everyone, everywhere, without any time constraint, Boston Health AI's Hami is designed as a physician-first tool - combining real-world clinical insight with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to support doctors in delivering high-quality, equitable care. By reducing administrative burdens and enabling more informed decisions, Hami helps physicians focus on what matters most: their patients. 'Healthcare should not depend on geography or income. With Hami, we're using the power of AI to break barriers and support physicians in delivering expert level care to every patient, whether they're in Boston or Badin. It's a re-imagining of what accessible, intelligent and physician-empowered healthcare can look like at scale.' said Dr Adil Haider, Founder of Boston Health AI, and former Dean of the Aga Khan University Medical College. 'Hami is an interactive, patient facing AI powered physician assistant, built with proprietary models and fully compliant with global privacy and security standards. It bridges the gap between physicians and patients, streamlining medical intake, analysing clinical data and generating structured, evidence-based recommendations for physicians. It reduces administrative burden, enhances physician efficiency and supports high-quality consultations. Through Hami, we aim to reach and improve the lives of 1 billion patients worldwide.' Healthcare systems across the world are under growing strain, driven by workforce shortages, rising costs, fragmented access and outdated infrastructure. The World Health Organisation projects a global shortfall of 11 million healthcare professionals by 2030; a gap that will hit low-resource settings the hardest. In Pakistan alone, over 87 million people lack access to essential care. Patients in these environments often face long wait times and rushed consultations, severely limiting the quality and continuity of care. In response, Boston Health AI was established to help address these challenges, leveraging technology to close critical gaps in care. Boston Health AI is led by global award-winning trauma surgeon and health equity leader Dr Adil Haider, in collaboration with US-based AI-focused venture studio, C10 Labs and Systems Limited, a global systems integrator specializing in AI-driven transformation and consulting services. 'At Systems Limited, we believe technology can play a powerful role in improving healthcare,' said Asif Peer, Group CEO and Managing Director of Systems Limited, and co-founder and tech partner at Boston Health AI. 'Our teams worked closely with Boston Health AI to build a secure, adaptable, and scalable platform for Hami. By combining clinical insight with robust engineering, we've developed a solution that can improve how care is delivered, while also creating space for meaningful innovation in other sectors.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business Recorder
Highnoon Labs partners with Bangladesh's Beximco to target high-burden diseases in Pakistan
Highnoon Laboratories Limited (HINOON), a Pakistani pharmaceutical company, has announced a strategic partnership with Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, a leading Bangladesh-based drug manufacturer, to collaborate on the distribution and marketing of specialised pharmaceutical products in Pakistan. The listed pharmaceutical disclosed the development in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday. 'The company has entered into a strategic partnership with Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, a leading Bangladesh-based pharmaceutical company having state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, accredited by the regulatory authorities of the USA, Australia, the European Union, Canada, and Brazil,' read the notice. HINOON shared that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been inked between the two companies to collaborate for the distribution and marketing of specialised pharmaceutical products in Pakistan, with the focus on high-burden therapeutic areas including respiratory, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Bangladesh firm opens outlet in Karachi 'Through this partnership, the company will bring newer therapies, dosage forms and delivery systems for the ease of use and better clinical results for patients and improve access to the advanced medications. This strategic alliance will make a significant contribution to the recent expansion of trade relations and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh,' read the notice. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is an emerging generic drug player committed to providing access to affordable medicines. It currently focuses on building presence in many emerging and developed markets around the world. Meanwhile, Highnoon Laboratories Limited was incorporated in Pakistan as a private limited company in 1984 and was converted into a public limited company in 1995. The principal activity of the company is the manufacturing, import, sale and marketing of pharmaceutical and allied consumer products.
Express Tribune
26-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancers have quietly emerged as one of Pakistan's most critical public health challenges. While globally these cancers are the seventh most common, in Pakistan, they rank second only to breast cancer. This alarming reality demands immediate attention. What makes the situation even more distressing is that a large number of cases affect the oral cavity and lips; areas where prevention is entirely possible. These account for over 12% of male cancers and 5% of female cancers in the country. According to global data, nearly 16,000 Pakistanis were diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2022, and more than 10,000 lives were lost to the disease. The root of the problem is well-known: smokeless tobacco products such as gutka, paan and naswar, as well as areca nut (chhaalia). These substances are cheap, readily available and commonly consumed. Often introduced to young people as harmless, they can lead to lifelong addiction with deadly consequences. In Karachi alone, more than 30% of adults use such products, a staggering figure that cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, the early symptoms of head and neck cancer — such as persistent mouth ulcers, difficulty swallowing, voice changes or unexplained lumps in the neck — are often overlooked. As a result, many patients only seek medical attention when the disease has already reached an advanced stage, making treatment more complex and outcomes less favourable. Yet, with early detection, survival rates can significantly improve, and patients are more likely to maintain a better quality of life. This is not just a medical issue, it's a community crisis. Families, educators, health professionals, media and policymakers must work together to raise awareness, discourage harmful habits and promote timely medical help. Public understanding and access to care must improve to prevent treatable conditions from becoming deadly. With collective action, we can save lives, reduce the burden of disease and protect future generations from this silent epidemic. Dr Waqas Ahmed Khan AKUH, Karachi
