Make cancer care an electoral commitment

Cancer is no longer just a medical condition. It is the long and painful struggle of thousands of families, a cause of financial ruin, and a clear sign of unequal access to healthcare. In Bangladesh, around 300,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer every year, and nearly 150,000 lives are lost. These numbers continue to rise, showing that cancer has become a serious national public health crisis.

Many cancer cases in Bangladesh are detected too late. Lack of early screening, low awareness, and limited services outside major cities mean that patients often reach hospitals when the disease is already advanced. This delay greatly reduces the chances of survival. Cancer, therefore, reflects not only a health problem but also gaps in our health system.

The financial burden of treatment is devastating. Families often take loans, sell land or property, or stop treatment halfway because they cannot afford the costs. Cancer brings not only physical and emotional suffering but also deep economic hardship. That is why cancer must be treated as a national priority, not just a hospital issue.

We believe that the political party that promises strong action in cancer prevention, early detection, affordable treatment, social protection, and modern cancer facilities across the country deserves the support of voters.

Cancer in Bangladesh and the World

 Cancer is now one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its impact is growing in both rich and poor countries. In Bangladesh, population growth, longer life expectancy, unhealthy lifestyles, and pollution are increasing cancer risk.

 The most common cancers here include breast, lung, oral, stomach, and cervical cancers. Many of these can be prevented or treated successfully if detected early.

 Tobacco use remains one of the biggest risk factors. Smoking and smokeless tobacco both cause serious harm. Other major risks include air pollution, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, obesity, and infections such as HPV and Hepatitis B/C. Cancer is therefore not only a medical issue—it is linked to environment, lifestyle, and public policy.

Another alarming trend is that cancer is no longer confined to older age groups. In the past, most cancer cases were seen in people over 50 years of age. However, recent data indicate that cancer incidence is rising at a similar and concerning rate among people under 50. Changes in lifestyle, increased consumption of processed foods, physical inactivity, environmental pollution, mental stress, and infection-related factors are placing younger populations at growing risk. Cancer is therefore no longer just a disease of old age—it is increasingly affecting the working-age population, with serious implications for national productivity and economic stability. A cancer diagnosis at a young age often means prolonged treatment costs, disruption of careers, and significant emotional and financial strain on families. For this reason, cancer prevention, awareness programs, and early detection strategies must urgently include younger age groups.   

Economic Burden and Loss of Foreign Currency

Cancer treatment places heavy financial pressure on families. Treatment in Bangladesh may cost around $5,000, while the same care abroad can cost more than $12,000, not including travel and accommodation. Going abroad often means spending three times more.

Because of these high costs:

• 45% of families take loans
• 30% sell assets
• 25% stop treatment halfway

 Cancer has become one of the main causes of catastrophic health spending in Bangladesh.

 Many patients also travel abroad each year for treatment, which leads to a large loss of foreign currency. If Bangladesh develops strong cancer treatment facilities at home, the country could save nearly $380 million by 2040. Investing in cancer care is therefore not only humane—it is also economically wise.

Cancer also pushes families into long-term poverty, making it a disease that creates poverty, not just illness.  

Shortage of Infrastructure and Equipment

 Bangladesh faces a serious lack of cancer treatment facilities. International standards suggest that we need around 200 radiotherapy machines, but only about 20 are currently working, most of them in private hospitals. As a result, patients often wait too long for treatment, which worsens their condition.

 Advanced diagnostic services such as CT scans, MRI, pathology, and molecular testing are mostly available in big cities. Rural patients therefore struggle even to get early diagnosis. International guidelines suggest one full cancer center per one million people, but Bangladesh has far fewer than needed.

 Shortage of Skilled Professionals

There is also a major shortage of trained cancer specialists. The country needs about 2,000 clinical oncologists, but only around 250 are available. Similar shortages exist in cancer surgery, medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, pathology, medical physics, and oncology nursing.

Essential cancer medicines, especially morphine for pain relief, must also be available everywhere. Buying machines alone is not enough—trained doctors, nurses, physicists, and technologists are equally important.   

Policy Solutions and Reform Priorities

 T he Health Sector Reform Commission has placed cancer control among its key national priorities. Important recommendations include:

• Nationwide cancer screening and early detection
• A strong National Cancer Registry with a unique ID for each patient
• Lower prices for anti-cancer medicines
• Adding at least 50 cancer drugs to the Essential Drug List
• Social health insurance for cancer patients
• Stronger public–private partnerships
• Tax relief and soft loans for cancer hospitals and equipment
• Government support for treatment in private hospitals when public facilities are full
• Local production of cancer medicines and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API)  

These steps will make treatment more affordable, accessible, and sustainable.

A National Call

A strong national cancer policy must ensure:

• Early screening
• Financial protection for poor patients
• Cancer centers across the country
• Reliable data and research

 If these steps are taken, cancer care will be seen not as a luxury expense, but as a right to life-saving treatment. 

Health is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right.

We will support the political party that commits to cancer prevention, treatment, social protection, and modern healthcare infrastructure. Fighting cancer is not only a medical duty—it is a fight for human dignity, economic stability, and the future of our nation.

The author is a member of the Health Sector Reform Commission and a professor and chairman at the Department of Clinical Oncology of Bangladesh Medical University.