Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Saturday said a new 500-bed cancer hospital would be established in the federal capital soon.
Addressing an awareness seminar held in connection with International Cancer Day, the minister said the PC-I of the hospital had already been approved with the estimated cost of
Rs 21 billion.
The seminar was organised by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) at Nori Hospital.
Dr Tariq Fazl said the mission of the government was to facilitate masses and ensure that their fundamental rights are protected.
He said sensitisation of the people on cancer would help reduce death ratio in the country and for the purpose collective efforts from all segments of the society were required.
Speaking on the occasion, National Health Services (Regulations and Coordination) Secretary Muhammad Ayub Sheikh said that unfortunately the number of cancer patients has been increasing for last several years.
Around 100,000 people died of cancer in 2015, which was quite a high death ratio but it could be countered by rising awareness, he added.
The health secretary said the ministry had taken a number of steps against factors causing or contributing towards spreading of the disease.
He said tobacco advertisement has been totally banned and import, sale, and use of `sheesha’ had also been restricted to keep the youth safe from harmful effects.
The secretary said that in the past, monthly medicine of a Hepatitis B or C patient cost almost Rs 2.7 million, which had now been reduced to Rs 5,800 due to the endeavors of the ministry.
Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) Managing Director Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh said the PBM had provided medical assistance to 44,000 cancer patients during the last three years.
The PBM, he said, would extend all-out support for the welfare of needy patients under the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He also announced two ambulances for Nori Hospital which would be handed over soon. Nori Hospital Director Dr Faheem Ali said currently 35 cancer hospitals in the country were providing services to patients. Eighteen of them were being run by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), which were catering to almost 80 per cent of the patients, he added.
He said unfortunately the cancer patients approached hospital when their disease had attained stage three or four and that was the reason why 62 to 70 per cent of them do not survive.
He said the ratio of cancer patients was comparatively high in under-developed countries, including Pakistan, due to malnutrition, pollution, unhealthy lifestyle etc.
He said citizens should help create awareness about the cancer disease so that people have medical check-up as it would help diagnose the disease at an earlier stage.
A large number of medical students, officials of ministries of health and CADD and people from different walks of life attended the seminar.