All-women breast radiation bay construction starts
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), in a major step towards enhancing cancer care for women in Pakistan, has started the construction of the state-of-the-art "Bilquis Abdul Sattar Edhi Breast Radiation Bay", a facility aimed at providing international standard radiation therapy exclusively for female breast cancer patients, operated entirely by an all-women medical staff.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, JPMC Executive Director, Professor Shahid Rasool, revealed that the facility is aimed at addressing both the medical and emotional needs of women suffering with breast cancer. The new radiation bay is expected to cater to 200 to 250 patients, daily, upon completion.
The facility is to be equipped with two cutting-edge Helix Tomotherapy machines, which are capable of automatically adjusting during minor patient movements, ensuring precision by targeting only cancer-affected cells. This feature is especially critical during the hour-long radiation sessions when patients may inadvertently move. The new facility will use some of the most advanced global technology in cancer treatment
Professor Rasool highlighted that traditional radiation therapy, particularly for left-side breast cancer, poses risks to the heart. The new machines will employ Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technology, allowing radiation to be delivered while the patient holds a deep breath, increasing the distance between the heart and breast tissue, thereby reducing cardiac risk.
Notably, the entire facility staff will be women, providing emotional and psychological comfort to patients who often undergo not only physical pain, but also intense mental stress and feelings of shame and inferiority due to the nature of their illness. "Hearing the word 'cancer' is devastating enough," Rasool noted, "but for many women, the treatment process brings feelings of vulnerability and embarrassment. Having female staff can offer some much-needed dignity and support."
The facility is expected to be operational by January-February 2026.
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Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
All-women breast radiation bay construction starts
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), in a major step towards enhancing cancer care for women in Pakistan, has started the construction of the state-of-the-art "Bilquis Abdul Sattar Edhi Breast Radiation Bay", a facility aimed at providing international standard radiation therapy exclusively for female breast cancer patients, operated entirely by an all-women medical staff. Speaking to The Express Tribune, JPMC Executive Director, Professor Shahid Rasool, revealed that the facility is aimed at addressing both the medical and emotional needs of women suffering with breast cancer. The new radiation bay is expected to cater to 200 to 250 patients, daily, upon completion. The facility is to be equipped with two cutting-edge Helix Tomotherapy machines, which are capable of automatically adjusting during minor patient movements, ensuring precision by targeting only cancer-affected cells. This feature is especially critical during the hour-long radiation sessions when patients may inadvertently move. The new facility will use some of the most advanced global technology in cancer treatment Professor Rasool highlighted that traditional radiation therapy, particularly for left-side breast cancer, poses risks to the heart. The new machines will employ Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technology, allowing radiation to be delivered while the patient holds a deep breath, increasing the distance between the heart and breast tissue, thereby reducing cardiac risk. Notably, the entire facility staff will be women, providing emotional and psychological comfort to patients who often undergo not only physical pain, but also intense mental stress and feelings of shame and inferiority due to the nature of their illness. "Hearing the word 'cancer' is devastating enough," Rasool noted, "but for many women, the treatment process brings feelings of vulnerability and embarrassment. Having female staff can offer some much-needed dignity and support." The facility is expected to be operational by January-February 2026.
Express Tribune
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Health budget up by eight per cent
As part of the Rs3.45 trillion provincial budget for FY 2025-26, the government has allocated Rs326.5 billion to the health sector, marking an 8 per cent increase from the previous year's Rs302.2 billion. A significant portion of Rs146.9 billion is to be disbursed as grants-in-aid to public health institutions and medical units across the province. Key allocations include Rs19 billion for the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT), Rs16.5 billion for the Peoples Primary Health Initiative (PPHI), and Rs10 billion for the construction of a new hospital in Larkana. Further, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that the government has transformed three major public healthcare institutions, including Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), into world-class facilities over the past 13 years. Delivering his budget speech in the Sindh Assembly, Shah highlighted that the combined bed capacity of the institutions has increased from 2,092 to 4,041, reflecting a significant expansion in public healthcare services. He also revealed that the construction of a new 12-storey medical tower, and a seven-storey officers' ward, is nearing completion at JPMC, stating "this will make JPMC not only the largest healthcare facility in the country but also among the largest in the world." Further, the CM stated that patient visits to the three institutions have surged from 1.6 million in 2011 to over four million in the current year. Meanwhile, highlighting advancements in cancer care, Shah said the provincial government, in partnership with the Patients Aid Foundation (PAF-JPMC), has revolutionised radiation oncology services by introducing CyberKnife, Tomotherapy, and PET-CT facilities. He noted "this is the only centre in the world providing free CyberKnife and Tomotherapy treatment regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Patients from 168 cities and 16 countries have benefited from these services at JPMC Karachi." APP
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