KARACHI, March 25: The Edhi Foundation, one of Pakistan’s largest relief agencies, has pledged to fund $4 million worth of equipment for the “Bilquis & Abdul Sattar Edhi – Breast Radiation Bay” at the Radiation Oncology Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) in Karachi.
Set to begin operations in April next year, the Radiation Bay will be jointly operated by the Patients Aid Foundation (PAF-JPMC) and the Sindh government, according to Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Professor Emeritus in Radiation Oncology at the Patients’ Aid Foundation. The new facility aims to provide free treatment to 160 breast cancer patients daily, using state-of-the-art Helix Tomotherapy units.
These advanced units will include a new technology—fan beam CT scanners—that allow for precise lesion localization and radiation delivery in a helical mode from 360 degrees. Additionally, the units will feature the SGRT/DIBH facility, ensuring zero risk of unnecessary radiation exposure to the heart.
The Sindh government has also committed to covering the costs for repair and maintenance of the equipment after its annual warranty expires, ensuring smooth operations and continued service, the statement added.
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Pakistan, with around 30,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The majority of these cases require surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. While surgery and chemotherapy are widely accessible in both the public and private sectors, there is a significant shortage of radiation therapy slots due to the lack of linear accelerators across the country.
Most centers offering breast radiotherapy in Pakistan still use 2D/3D CRT, which falls short of the updated global standards of IMRT/VMAT radiotherapy, available at only a few centers and often out of reach for the average person.
To address this, new technologies like Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) and Deep Inhalation Breath Hold (DIBH) have been introduced worldwide. These technologies allow for precise radiation delivery, avoiding unnecessary exposure to healthy, critical structures like the heart. Unfortunately, SGRT/DIBH is not yet available in Pakistan, despite its significant importance, particularly for younger breast cancer patients.
The Patients Aid Foundation, in collaboration with the Sindh government, has worked to expand JPMC’s capacity, increasing its bed count from 1,100 to 2,208 by constructing new wards and outfitting them with the latest equipment. Another 600-bed project is currently under construction.
Radiation Oncology at JPMC is unique in offering free cancer treatment with cutting-edge technologies like Cyberknife and Tomotherapy, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity. To date, patients from 167 cities in Pakistan and 15 countries have benefited from these free services.
