Around 10,000 Children Diagnosed with Cancer Annually in Pakistan; Indus Hospital Treats Over 16,000 Since 2014 — Early Detection Can Raise Survival to 85%

Karachi: Approximately 10,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan every year, yet less than 30 percent survive due to delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and financial constraints, health experts revealed during the second episode of “HealthWise,” a quarterly health awareness series exclusively designed for media professionals by the Media & PR team of Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN).

‘HealthWise’ aims to bridge the gap between science and society by using the power of media to amplify health education, foster awareness, and advocate for sustainable healthcare solutions. The session focused on Childhood Cancer and the urgent need for early detection and improved access to specialized care.

Globally, nearly 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer annually, with about 80 percent of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. While survival rates exceed 80–85 percent in high-income countries, outcomes remain significantly lower in developing nations due to gaps in early detection and specialized care.

Speaking at the HealthWise session, Dr. Naeem Jabbar, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Specialist at IHHN, emphasized that childhood cancers are largely curable if diagnosed early. “Unlike adult cancers, most childhood cancers have no clear cause and are not linked to lifestyle factors. With timely and appropriate treatment, cure rates can reach up to 85 percent,” he said.

He explained that major reasons behind low survival in Pakistan include delayed recognition of symptoms, poor supportive care, limited access to specialized treatment centers, shortage of trained healthcare professionals, and high treatment abandonment rates.
The most common types of childhood cancers include leukemia (blood cancer), lymphoma, brain and spinal cord tumors, bone tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and retinoblastoma. Treatment options such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are available and effective when started early.

Dr. Sadia Muhammad, Head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology; Dr. Ahmer Hamid, Consultant – Pediatric Hematology; Dr. Ghulam Qadir, Pediatric Oncologist; Dr. Shamvil Ashraf, Consultant – Pediatric Oncology and Executive Director, Medical Services Directorate; and Dr. Muhammad Rafie Raza, Consultant – Pediatric Oncology, nafeesa and shabnam from phycho-social department were also present at the event.

Responding to questions from journalists, Dr. Shamvil Ashraf said that late presentation of cases remains one of the biggest challenges. “Many families reach specialized centers when the disease is already advanced. Community-level awareness is critical to improving survival outcomes,” he noted.

Highlighting the scale of services at Indus Hospital, Dr. Ashraf shared that approximately 1,000 new pediatric cancer cases are registered annually at the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Department in Karachi. Since 2014, over 16,000 children have been treated, with nearly 1,300 children actively receiving treatment at any given time.

He further explained the financial burden of cancer treatment globally. “On average, a single chemotherapy session costs around $25 (approximately PKR 7,000), while complete cancer treatment for a child can cost up to $6,000 (over PKR 16 lacs). At Indus Hospital, all these services are provided completely free of cost to patients,” he stated.

Dr. Muhammad Rafie Raza addressed misconceptions regarding childhood cancer. He clarified that childhood cancer is not contagious and does not spread through contact. “It is not caused by anything the child or parents did. Cancer does not always mean death. Early diagnosis and proper treatment significantly improve the chances of recovery,” he said.

To improve access to care beyond Karachi, IHHN introduced a Shared Care Model to decentralize pediatric oncology services. Since 2023, 414 patients have been jointly managed at shared care centers in Sindh, while 1,030 patients have been jointly managed at the Pediatric Oncology Unit (POU) in Quetta since 2021.

Through partnerships with government hospitals, pediatric oncology units have been established at SKBZ Hospital Quetta, DHQ Badin, Mother & Child Hospital Nawabshah, Sheikh Zaid Children Hospital Larkana, Dr. Zeenat Issani Institute Shikarpur, and Civil Hospital Karachi.

Indus Hospital & Health Network operates one of the largest free pediatric oncology programs in Pakistan, offering comprehensive treatment regardless of a family’s financial status.

Health experts reiterated that early detection saves lives and urged parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and media professionals to play their role in raising awareness so that every child gets a fair and equal chance at life.