Pakistan marks first World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, highlights need for cancer care access
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reports nearly 195,000 new cancer cases annually, while globally, 70% of cases occur in low-income countries, where only 30% of patients have access to radiotherapy facilities.
In response to these alarming figures, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), through its Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), organized the country’s first-ever World Radiotherapy Awareness Day in the federal capital.
The event aimed to raise awareness about safe and modern cancer treatment options, particularly radiotherapy, and highlight the urgent need for equitable access to treatment in developing countries.
Dr. Shakeel Abbas Raufi, Member (Science) of PAEC, was the chief guest at the event. He praised the role of PAEC’s 20 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals, especially NORI, in providing quality healthcare services to cancer patients across the country. He termed the designation of NORI as an “Anchor Center” by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a major milestone, and emphasized the need for transferring NORI’s expertise to other cancer centers in the country.
Highlighting infrastructure gaps, Dr. Raufi said Pakistan needs around 200 linear accelerators, each costing approximately PKR 650 million. He stressed the importance of local manufacturing of such machines to save valuable foreign exchange.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Humaira Mahmood, Director and Chief Oncologist at NORI, stated that radiotherapy is the most crucial non-surgical treatment for cancer and is required at some stage for nearly all patients, including one-third of pediatric cases.
Quoting statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), she reiterated that 195,000 new cancer cases are reported in Pakistan annually, while access to radiotherapy remains limited in most low-income nations.
Dr. Humaira also highlighted NORI’s cutting-edge facilities, which include:4D simulation for tumor tracking,Pakistan’s only MR-based image-guided brachytherapy,CyberKnife, PET scan, digital mammography,PCR labs, a fully functional blood bank, tumor boards, and telemedicine networks.
As part of the event, a poster competition titled “Radiotherapy: A Cornerstone of Cancer Care” was held, attracting enthusiastic participation from students and professionals alike. The ceremony concluded with an awareness walk, followed by the inauguration of a modern DEXA scanner by the chief guest. The machine will enhance diagnostic capabilities for bone health and osteoporosis.
It is worth mentioning that World Radiotherapy Awareness Day was globally observed for the first time on September 7, 2025—commemorating the day when a patient was treated for the first time using a linear accelerator. This year’s theme, “One Voice for Radiotherapy,” advocates for equal access to safe and advanced cancer treatment, especially in countries with limited infrastructure and trained personnel. Syed Naveed Jamal
