The high cost of cancer treatment is putting advanced therapies beyond the reach of most patients in Pakistan, with 94.6 per cent of oncologists identifying financial constraints as a major barrier to care, according to a national survey published in BMC Health Services Research.
The survey, based on responses from 111 oncology professionals practising in 10 cities across the country's four provinces, found that the availability of diagnostic facilities and modern treatments did not necessarily translate into affordable access for patients. The findings were published on September 5, 2026.
The study found that 65.8pc of respondents reported delays in accessing medicines, while 59.5pc cited shortages of equipment or other resources that could impede diagnosis and treatment. The affordability gap was particularly pronounced for targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
Although these treatments were reported to be available in many surveyed settings, 79.3pc of oncologists estimated that only 0-20pc of their patients could afford them without financial assistance. Another 18pc estimated that 20-50pc of their patients could pay for such treatment without assistance.
The findings highlight the difference between having modern cancer-care facilities and ensuring that patients can actually use them. The researchers cautioned that the survey recorded professionals' assessments of their own workplaces rather than independently verified service levels or patient outcomes.
Advanced tests remain unaffordable for many. The survey found that basic diagnostic infrastructure was widely reported in the institutions represented, with 99.1pc of respondents reporting access to CT scans and 87.4pc to MRI facilities.
PET scans were available in the settings of 57.7pc of respondents. However, access to advanced molecular testing remained a challenge.
Next-generation sequencing, which can help identify genetic changes in tumours and guide treatment decisions, was reported by 61.3pc of respondents. Among those reporting access to the test, 55.9pc said fewer than half of their patients could afford it.
The time required to obtain diagnostic results also varied. About 19.8pc of respondents said results were available within seven days, while 67.6pc reported turnaround times of seven to 14 days.
The remaining 12.6pc said results took more than two weeks. The survey also found that only 39.6pc of respondents reported having dedicated palliative-care services at their institutions, while 60.4pc said no such specialised service was available.
Palliative care aims to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life of people living with serious illnesses, including advanced cancer. Financial assistance programmes were reported by 87.4pc of respondents.
Among the funding arrangements described, 55pc relied primarily on charitable donations, 28.8pc on government funding and 7.2pc on a combination of public and private funding. The researchers said the findings pointed to a system in which basic services and some advanced treatments were available, but access remained uneven and heavily influenced by patients' ability to pay.
Pakistan lacks a unified cancer registry. The absence of a comprehensive national cancer registry presents another obstacle to planning and monitoring cancer services.
A scoping review published in 'The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia' in 2025 identified multiple cancer registries in Pakistan, but highlighted significant gaps in data integration and consistency across provinces.