The Health Services Academy hosted a seminar on breast disease burden and breast cancer awareness that brought together public health leaders and clinical specialists to press for policy reform and better screening access across Pakistan.
Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of HSA, framed the conversation from an administrative perspective, saying it is the academy’s responsibility to translate evidence into policy and drive systemic change to reduce the impact of breast cancer on women and the healthcare system.
Prof. Dr. Junaid Sarfraz, Rector of HSA, reiterated the institution’s commitment to ensure research and advocacy are converted into tangible action that improves equity in women’s health throughout the country.
Clinical speakers balanced the call for system-level reform with practical prevention messages. Prof. Dr. Samina Naeem Khalid urged women to practise regular breast self-examination and highlighted known risk factors, noting that breastfeeding is a protective factor and pointing out the concerning statistic that only 48 percent of women in Pakistan breastfeed.
Prof. Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz delivered a stark assessment of current gaps, stressing that there is no national policy for breast cancer screening and no comprehensive cancer registry to guide planning. She warned, ‘Without a registry, we are fighting a shadow enemy,’ and argued that an immediate national policy coupled with guaranteed mammography and biopsy services in every district hospital are non-negotiable steps to make screening and early diagnosis effective.
The seminar made a clear case that reducing the burden of breast cancer requires both empowered individuals and a stronger, responsive health system. Speakers urged policymakers and health managers to prioritise a national breast cancer strategy, invest in district-level diagnostic services and establish a reliable cancer registry so that resources can be allocated where they are most needed.
