Treatment of cancer patients in Pakistan
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that the number of cancer patients has recently increased dramatically. While the numbers have increased everywhere, the situation is more worrying in developing countries like Pakistan. As such, the 2022 report of IARC mentions 185,748 new cases in Pakistan. Given this spike in cases, there has been a rise in medical services for cancer patients across the country. The federal and provincial governments have initiated several projects, including the construction of cancer hospitals and research centres, in response to the increasing number of patients. In addition, private hospitals have also extended the scope of their services and are offering treatment to cancer patients. However, although these institutions adopt various medical treatment strategies, it seems that the existing services lack the psychosocial support needed by cancer patients and their loved ones. This means that in contrast to the medico-psycho-social method of treatment, cancer treatment in Pakistan is hugely based on the medical model, thereby ignoring the psychosocial aspect of treatment. It is worth noting that the need for psychosocial support is several times higher when patients have Stage-IV cancer because of the traumatic episodes the patients and their families are going through.
Considering this gap, it is important to raise the government’s consciousness about the importance of a medico-psycho-social approach in treating cancer patients. Evidence suggests that support groups, therapies, psychosocial support, and counselling not only help patients manage their pain but also facilitate a more comfortable, peaceful, and dignified dying process. In addition, engagements with the family, such as grief counselling, assist them in coping more effectively with their psychological and social needs. Therefore, a holistic approach to treatment that includes not only medical professionals but also psychologists and medical social workers is essential. To achieve this, expanding the scope and role of social medical officers in hospitals could be a good starting point. It is because social workers, by virtue of their training and education, hold immense potential to be active members of the multidisciplinary team of professionals such as medical doctors, paramedics, and psychologists. Besides, social workers' role in preventing diseases such as cancer is also indispensable. However, all stakeholders must formulate a more thorough approach to providing adequate care to cancer patients.