Cancer in Bangladesh: The Unspoken Public Health Emergency

Around 150,000–200,000 new cancer cases are reported annually.

• Most are detected in advanced stages.
• Patients often face catastrophic out-of-pocket costs.
• Rural populations suffer the most-delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and poor access to oncology services.

Currently, Bangladesh has:
🔸 No nationwide cancer screening program
🔸 No referral pathway from PHC to tertiary cancer centers
🔸 No national cancer control strategy (currently under development)

Under the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program, we are working to reverse the silence:

✅ Piloting population- and facility-based cancer registries in partnership with BSMMU
✅ Strengthening 350+ Upazila NCD corners as future entry points for awareness and early detection
✅ Planning a comprehensive National Cancer Control Strategy focused on prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship

🧭 The Way Forward:

1. Introduce structured screening (cervical, breast, oral cancers)
2. Build referral and tracking systems
3. Ensure affordable diagnostics and oncology access
4. Include palliative care and survivorship under UHC
5. Invest in digital tools and workforce training
6. Implement financial protection for cancer patients

🔔 Let’s bring cancer care into the heart of UHC.
Let’s ensure that early detection, treatment, and dignified care become a right — not a privilege.