Cancer experts have called for making cancer screening mandatory in certain cases to ensure early detection and reduce mortality rates.
They made the call on Friday, the closing day of the two-day Bangladesh International Cancer Congress 2025, held at the Radisson Blu Dhaka, organized by the Oncology Club Bangladesh.
During a media briefing on the last day, cancer specialist Dr. A.F.M. Kamal Uddin presented his research paper, highlighting both global and local cancer scenarios and warning of the alarming rise of cancer in Bangladesh if preventive measures are not taken immediately, said a press release issued on Friday.
Dr. Kamal noted that Bangladesh currently faces a severe shortage of radiotherapy machines compared to the number of cancer patients. “For 184,000 cancer patients nationwide, at least 209 radiotherapy machines are needed.”
“However, the country has only 29 machines, which is insufficient to provide treatment to the growing number of patients. This scarcity contributes to the higher cancer mortality rate. To reduce this, radiotherapy machines must be installed in major divisional cities such as Chattogram and Sylhet as a priority,” he said.
Another specialist Dr. M. Saiful Haque emphasized the need for a well-planned national cancer policy. “To reduce cancer mortality, the government must adopt a long-term strategy rather than focusing only on initial investment. Cancer treatment is expensive, but with proper policy and planning, it can be made more accessible.”
He also stressed the importance of public awareness as the first line of defense against cancer.
Member Secretary of the organizing committee Dr. Mostafa Aziz Sumon called for collective effort in the fight against cancer. “Everyone must come forward in this battle, especially journalists who can play a leading role in spreading awareness.”
President of the Oncology Club Bangladesh and the Bangladesh International Cancer Congress Professor Dr. M.A. Hai described the growing number of cancer patients in Bangladesh and other developing countries as alarming.
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“A large portion of patients remain outside the scope of proper treatment. Developing skilled professionals and ensuring quality cancer care is one of the club’s core missions,” he said.
“To conquer cancer and bring smiles back to patients and their families, we must all work together,” the expert said.
This year’s congress partnered academically with the University of Bologna (Italy), SingHealth (Singapore), and the Global Health Catalyst. Distinguished experts and researchers also joined from leading institutions including Royal Modern Hospital, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, KHCC Education and Training Academy, Whipps Cross University Hospital (UK), UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania (USA), among others.
Led by Professor Dr. M.A. Hai (President) and Dr. A.M.M. Shariful Alam (General Secretary), renowned Bangladeshi oncologists, scientists, and researchers participated in a series of academic sessions.
This year’s conference brought together over 1,200 participants, including 31 internationally acclaimed cancer experts from 16 countries, along with oncologists, healthcare professionals, and researchers.