Cancer claims over 100,000 lives annually in BD

Bangladesh records around 167,000 new cancer cases every year, while more than 100,000 people die annually from cancer-related causes, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain informed Parliament on Thursday.

The minister also outlined a series of government initiatives aimed at expanding cancer treatment services and improving transparency and accountability in the healthcare sector.

Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Sanjida Yasmeen of a reserved women’s seat, the minister cited the GLOBOCAN 2022 report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which estimates that 316,417 people in Bangladesh are living with cancer or undergoing treatment based on five-year prevalence data.

The minister said breast and cervical cancers are the most common forms of the disease among women, while lung cancer and cancers of the mouth and lips are the most prevalent among men.

To establish an accurate national database on cancer patients, the government is operating both Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and Hospital-Based Cancer Registry programmes through the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), he told the House.

Sakhawat Husain said the government is implementing a project to establish 100-bed comprehensive cancer treatment units at eight divisional government medical college hospitals.

The facilities are expected to improve access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical oncology services outside the capital.

He noted that the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Mohakhali continues to serve as the country’s principal specialised institution for cancer treatment and research.

Efforts are also underway to increase its bed capacity and upgrade infrastructure to meet growing demand for services.

The minister added that chemotherapy drugs and other essential treatment materials are being supplied regularly to government medical college hospitals and specialised healthcare facilities to support cancer patients across the country.

Beyond cancer care, Sakhawat Husain highlighted broader reforms aimed at improving governance in the health sector. He said the government is pursuing measures to build a transparent and accountable healthcare system while eliminating the influence of middlemen and corruption.

According to the minister, healthcare services are being digitalised at all levels to improve service quality and reduce opportunities for interference by unauthorised intermediaries. The central Supply Chain Management System has also been modernised to strengthen oversight of medicine distribution and enhance transparency throughout the supply chain.

He said telemedicine services have been expanded to bring healthcare closer to people’s homes, enabling patients to receive consultations from specialist physicians more easily and reducing harassment in accessing services.

To improve accountability, the government has formed monitoring committees to collect patient feedback and conduct regular oversight of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Administrative action is being taken whenever irregularities or service delivery failures are identified, he added.

The minister further said authorities are maintaining strict monitoring of the prices of essential medicines to prevent excessive profiteering, while relevant policies are being updated in the public interest.

Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, Sakhawat Husain said regular mobile court drives are being conducted by hospital authorities in coordination with local law enforcement agencies to dismantle middleman networks operating within hospitals.

He told Parliament that efforts to establish a transparent, accountable and corruption-free healthcare sector would continue alongside measures to improve access to quality medical services for people across Bangladesh.