The Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) on 3 February organised a national conference titled Building Cancer Care Ecosystems:
From Hospitals to Health Clusters, bringing together leading healthcare professionals, policymakers and heads of major medical institutions to deliberate on ways to strengthen coordinated cancer care systems across Pakistan.
The conference focused on the urgent need to shift from fragmented, hospital-centric treatment models to integrated healthcare networks that can deliver comprehensive, patient-centred cancer care, from early diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and long-term follow-up.
Addressing the gathering, CEO RMI Mr. Shafique Ur Rehman stressed the importance of building collaborative cancer care ecosystems that link hospitals, diagnostic centres, research institutions and community healthcare providers into a unified framework.
He said isolated treatment approaches often fall short in addressing the complex medical, emotional and social challenges faced by cancer patients.
During his address, he outlined several key priorities essential for strengthening cancer care in Pakistan, including:
- Capacity building across all healthcare roles
- Promotion of lifestyle medicine and early screening initiatives
- Development of district-level cancer detection pathways
- Integration of palliative care as a critical component of treatment
- Effective utilization of the Sehat Card to ensure quality care and accessibility
- Establishment of a long-term national “Charter of Health”
The central message of the conference emphasized that meaningful collaboration among institutions, healthcare providers, and stakeholders is vital to transforming cancer care delivery and improving patient outcomes nationwide.
