Cancer patients in Sindh are facing serious challenges due to the absence of a complete cancer treatment system in public hospitals. Across the province, including Karachi, no single government hospital provides all cancer services under one roof, forcing patients to move between multiple facilities for treatment.
This fragmented healthcare system creates major difficulties. Patients often travel from one hospital to another for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which leads to treatment delays and increased financial pressure. Families already struggling with the emotional burden of cancer are pushed further into hardship due to rising medical costs and repeated hospital visits.
Health experts highlight that many terminally ill patients are also deprived of proper palliative care, which is essential for managing pain and improving quality of life in advanced stages. In many cases, patients are left to suffer severe pain without access to basic relief services.
Pakistan records over 180,000 new cancer cases every year, and Sindh accounts for a significant share due to its large population. Despite Karachi being a major healthcare hub, patients still cannot access complete cancer care in one place.
A recent case of a 55-year-old patient from Hyderabad shows the harsh reality. After diagnosis, he was referred to multiple hospitals including SIUT, JPMC, and Kiran. Each facility redirected him elsewhere, and eventually, he was told to seek palliative care at a private hospital. Unable to continue treatment, he returned home without relief.
Another critical issue is the shortage of pain management medicines like morphine and fentanyl patches. Strict regulations and limited supply make these drugs difficult to access in public hospitals, leaving patients in uncontrolled pain.
Experts warn that without establishing integrated cancer hospitals and improving palliative care services, thousands of patients in Sindh will continue to suffer. There is an urgent need for a unified healthcare system that provides complete cancer treatment and ensures dignity for patients in their most difficult times.
