Primary care physicians and cancer care in Pakistan: A short narrative

Abstract

Cancer affects more than 175,000 Pakistanis every year, imposing cost strains and increased financial, psychological and social burden on an already struggling populace. With a dearth of trained oncologists, the burden of advanced cancer in Pakistan is irrationally high, contributing to avoidably high mortality and morbidity rates. The involvement of primary care physicians in cancer screening, treatment decision making, and advanced care can be an effective strategy in the mitigation of this problem, without imposing any additional burden on the health resources. This integrated healthcare delivery approach needs to be encouraged and modeled to handle the growing cancer burden and to improve cancer survivorship in the country.