Sindh hospitals face life-threatening shortage of cancer medicines

KARACHI: Public sector hospitals in Sindh, including Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and Civil Hospital Hyderabad, are grappling with a severe shortage of life-saving drugs for cancer patients. The shortage has persisted for several months, endangering the lives of thousands of cancer patients.

At Civil Hospital Karachi, the largest public hospital in Sindh, over 60 cancer patients in various stages are currently admitted, while more than 6,000 are registered for treatment. Most of these patients are in stage 3 and stage 4, requiring immediate and continuous medication. Unfortunately, the lack of essential cancer medicines has put these patients at significant risk. According to sources, the hospital administration failed to procure necessary medications last year due to soaring prices, further aggravating the crisis.

Oncologists have raised alarms, stating that stage 3 and stage 4 cancer patients are in the critical stages of their battle, and the unavailability of treatment is life-threatening. The shortage of vital cancer medicines not only delays care but could also have fatal consequences for patients with advanced cancers.

CHK Medical Superintendent Dr. Khalid Bukhari confirmed that the hospital administration has already informed the Sindh Health Department about the dire situation, but a tender for purchasing new supplies has yet to be issued. "We are making every effort to resolve this shortage as quickly as possible," Dr. Bukhari stated, adding that providing cancer patients with the necessary medicines remains their top priority.

The ongoing shortage underscores the urgent need for timely procurement of cancer drugs to ensure that patients in Sindh receive the care they desperately need.