World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Day: ‘Leukemia common among younger Pakistanis’

Drug manufacturer teams up with provincial govt to provide free cancer treatment.


Our Correspondent September 26, 2013
“The average age at diagnosis in Pakistan is 45 years," says Dr Jameel. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

PESHAWAR: An event to mark World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Day – observed worldwide on September 22 – was held at the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dr Abid Jameel explained how a patient develops leukemia. “It’s a form of blood cancer that develops due to gene mutation. In western countries, it occurs in most patients when they are in their late 50s,” he said.

Research at HMC and other institutions in the country, however, shows leukemia is common among younger patients in Pakistan. “The average age at diagnosis in Pakistan is 45 years. CML constitutes about 10% to 20% of all blood cancer,” added Dr Jameel.



Expressing concerns over this statistic, Jameel said losing young people will have a negative impact on the economy and industry if people are not provided treatment of international standards.

Till 2000, the treatment available for CML could only prolong a patient’s life for three to five years, and they would usually die within this time frame. In 2001, a new drug called imatinib was introduced. It not only changed the outcomes, but also kicked off a new era and set a precedent in treating cancer, said Dr Jameel.

“This treatment strategy is known as targeted therapy, which only kills cells that harbour gene mutations causing the disease while sparing normal cells,” he explained, adding the drug can prolong the patient’s life by more than 10 years. “The patient can almost live the average life expectancy and carry out their regular daily activities,” he added.

The cost of the drug, however, may be out of reach for most Pakistani patients. The patient may be required to spend around Rs120,000 per month for the rest of their life, which means the cost would range between Rs1.4 million to Rs2.8 million a year, informed Dr Jameel. “Due to such high expenses, 95% of patients in K-P cannot afford this medication.”

Fighting cancer

Presently, around 707 blood cancer patients from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have been registered for free treatment through a government project at the HMC.



Commenting on the provision, Jameel said the provincial government has entered into a partnership with a drug manufacturer, wherein both parties will jointly finance cancer treatment. The drug manufacturer will bear the brunt of the cost.

According to the arrangement initiated in 2011, K-P government pays for two months of treatment for three years, while the pharmaceutical provides for the remaining 30 months. After three years, the drug manufactures becomes responsible for all costs, relieving the government from any further expenditures.

The initiative costs the government around Rs571 million – a 16% share of the total cost.

“After eight years, the government’s burden will be reduced to 6.25% while the company’s share will increase to 93.75%,” said Dr Jameel. “Though this project only treats 800 patients for eight years, it could be extended to more patients if both parties agree to further their commitment.”

Sharing details about the 707 patients currently being treated under the initiative, Jameel said 99 of them are from Peshawar, 58 from Mardan, 45 from Swabi, 47 from Charsadda, 75 from Abbottabad, Haripur and Mansehra, while the rest hail from North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Shangla and other districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2013.

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