KARACHI:
Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab faces a significant challenge when it comes to cancer treatment. Currently, the district lacks a dedicated cancer hospital, forcing patients to travel long distances to larger cities for proper care. This absence of specialised facilities creates difficulties for patients and their families, especially those who cannot afford frequent travel or expensive treatments. Although general hospitals, such as the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, provide basic healthcare services, they do not have the advanced equipment or specialists required for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
In recent years, cancer cases in Dera Ghazi Khan have been increasing, making the need for a local cancer treatment centre even more urgent. While there is a Shaukat Khanum Laboratory Collection Centre in the city, it only offers testing and sample collection services. Patients must still visit cancer hospitals in Lahore, Multan or Bahawalpur for treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. Among these, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore and the Multan Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (MINAR) are the most commonly visited options. However, the long distances often result in delays in treatment, which can worsen the condition of patients.
The lack of a cancer hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan highlights a critical gap in healthcare infrastructure. Cancer patients require timely diagnosis and continuous care, which is difficult to achieve without a local facility. Establishing a specialised cancer hospital in the region would not only ease the burden on patients but also improve survival rates through early detection and treatment. Until then, people of Dera Ghazi Khan will have to rely on distant hospitals, hoping for better facilities closer to home in the future.
Malik Muhammad Shahwaiz
Dera Ghazi Khan
