ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In a landmark development for the country’s healthcare system, President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the National Institutes of Health (Reorganisation) Amendment Bill 2025, clearing the way for the establishment of Pakistan’s first national cancer registry.
For decades, Pakistan has relied on scattered, hospital-based cancer data from institutions in Lahore, Karachi and a few private health centres, leaving the true scale of the disease largely unknown. With the passage of this bill, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will now compile a centralised database of cancer cases, recoveries, deaths and demographics, providing policymakers with the tools to design effective nationwide strategies for prevention and treatment.
Health experts have long called for such a registry, warning that without accurate figures, the country risks underestimating its cancer burden. The new system will not only unify fragmented regional data but also ensure privacy protections, as patients’ personal information cannot be disclosed without consent.
The bill also brings reforms to the NIH structure, promising improved governance, accountability, and a stronger role in shaping Pakistan’s healthcare future. Officials say the registry will help the government devise targeted interventions, enhance cancer control programmes, and better allocate medical resources across provinces.
Medical professionals and public health activists have welcomed the decision, calling it a milestone in Pakistan’s battle against cancer, one that could save countless lives in the years ahead—provided implementation is swift and transparent.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.