One of the major problems faced by the children cancer patients is lack of specialised units and expert doctors in oncology. Majority of children is either not diagnosed or does not reach treatment centres at all or in time. Therefore, there is need to spread awareness among people regarding child cancer, as now it is curable.
Knowledge about childhood cancer is extremely poor not only of general population but also among medical professionals.
In many cases inability to afford the expensive treatment is a big obstacle. Almost 100 percent in government hospitals and 80 percent in private hospitals patients cannot afford cancer treatment and need support from the government or the private sector.
The cost of treatment depends upon the type and status of the disease and also on complication that may occur during the course of treatment, the treatment centre also counts regarding expenses. On an average expenses on one child treatment is one to four lakh rupees.
Another problem is availability of treatment facilities. The facilities for childhood cancer in our country are far from satisfactory. Although the chemotherapy drugs and tools for accurate diagnosis are available in some good centres of big cities but their number is far less than required.
With the availability facilities and resources not more than 25 percent children suffering from cancer get proper diagnosis and treatment in Pakistan.
Nihilistic approach results in delay of treatment and lack of compliance.
Lack of pediatric units in hospitals. Only five to six specialised units in the whole country.
There is lack of pediatric oncologist in the country. Adult oncologists treat majority of the children suffering from cancer.
The drugs used in cancer treatment are life-saving ones. Therefore the government must cut subsidy on these drugs to lower the cost of treatment, thus making it affordable to the patients to some extent.
We must fight cancer and do not lose hope. To improve the outcome of childhood cancer in Pakistan lots of efforts are needed by the government as well as the private sector.