KARACHI: Around 10,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan every year, but due to delayed diagnosis, limited treatment facilities and financial constraints, fewer than 30 per cent survive, health experts said at an awareness session jointly organised by the Indus Hospital & Health Network on Feb 15.
Speaking at the “Health Wise” session on childhood cancer, experts said that globally nearly 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer annually, with about 80% of cases reported from low- and middle-income countries. While survival rates in developed nations exceed 80-85%, outcomes in developing countries remain lower because of late detection and lack of access to specialised care.
Dr Naeem Jabbar, Consultant Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, said that most childhood cancers are curable if diagnosed and treated in time. “Unlike adult cancers, the majority of childhood cancers have no clearly defined cause and are not linked to lifestyle factors. With timely and appropriate treatment, cure rates can reach up to 85%,” he said.
He further stated that poor survival in Pakistan is largely due to delayed recognition of symptoms, inadequate supportive care, shortage of trained specialists, limited access to specialised centres and high rates of treatment abandonment.
The most common childhood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, brain and spinal tumours, bone tumours, soft tissue sarcomas, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour and retinoblastoma.
Treatment options such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy are available and effective when started on time, the experts said.
Responding to media queries, Dr Shumail Ashraf, Consultant Pediatric Oncology and Executive Director, Medical Services Directorate, said late presentation of cases remained the biggest challenge. “Many families reach specialised facilities when the disease has already advanced. Community-level awareness is crucial to improving survival outcomes,” he added.
Highlighting the scope of services, he said the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department in Karachi registers around 1,000 new cases annually. Since 2014, more than 16,000 children have been treated, while approximately 1,300 are under treatment at any given time.
He further said the average cost of a single chemotherapy session is about around Rs7,000, while complete treatment may cost up to over Rs1.6 million. “At Indus Hospital, all cancer treatment services are provided completely free of cost,” he added.
Dr Muhammad Rafi Raza, Consultant Pediatric Oncology, dispelled common misconceptions, clarifying that childhood cancer is not contagious and does not spread through contact.
“Cancer does not always mean death. Early diagnosis and proper treatment significantly improve chances of survival,” he said.
To expand access beyond Karachi, the Indus Hospital & Health Network has introduced a Shared Care Model to decentralise pediatric oncology services. Since 2023, some 414 patients in Sindh have received treatment at shared care centres, while 1,030 patients have been treated at the pediatric oncology unit in Quetta since 2021.
Through partnerships with public sector hospitals, pediatric oncology units have been established at Sandeman Provincial Hospital (SKBZ), DHQ Badin, Mother and Child Hospital Nawabshah, Sheikh Zayed Children’s Hospital Larkana, Dr Zainat Ansari Institute Shikarpur and Civil Hospital Karachi.
Experts reiterated that early diagnosis saves lives and urged parents, teachers, healthcare providers and media professionals to play their role in raising awareness to ensure every child gets an equal chance at life.
News Published in Express Tribune on February 16th, 2026.
