Indus Hospital Conducts CME on Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Challenges and Future Directions

The Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at The Indus Hospital, Karachi, recently conducted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session titled “Towards a Healthier Tomorrow: Childhood Cancer Survivorship in Pakistan – Challenges and Future Directions.” The CME was designed to address the evolving needs of childhood cancer survivors and to promote structured, multidisciplinary survivorship care models aligned with local realities.

The CME brought together 45 participants, both in person and virtually, from pediatric oncology units and shared-care centers across Pakistan.

The academic program featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Saima Alvi, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Aziza Shad, Assistant Professor and Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Georgetown University; and Dr. Neelum Tahirkheli, Senior Registrar, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, IHHN. The speakers delivered evidence-based presentations highlighting key challenges and future directions in childhood cancer survivorship. Multidisciplinary perspectives from the Psychosocial Support Team at Indus Hospital further emphasized the importance of psychological and social support in comprehensive survivorship care.

A particularly impactful segment included personal reflections shared by Manahil, a childhood cancer survivor, and Ms. Uzma Noor, mother of a cancer survivor, underscoring the long-term human impact of quality oncology care and the need for structured survivorship support.

The Head of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Department, Dr. Sadia Imran, shared departmental reflections and expressed enthusiasm for the evolving vision and formal establishment of a Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic at Indus Hospital, emphasizing the importance of long term follow up, quality of life & sustainable survivorship models

The CME concluded with an interactive panel discussion featuring esteemed Pediatric Oncologist & Radiation Oncologist of Pakistan followed by closing remarks from Dr. Shamvil Ashraf, Consultant Pediatric Oncologist and Executive Director Medical Services, IHHN, who highlighted pediatric oncology survivorship programs in Pakistan as the need of the hour.