Breast cancer screening gaps in Pakistan: consequences for late-stage disease and intensive care burden

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the significant public health problems in Pakistan with no structured screening services
resulting in late diagnosis and unfavorable clinical prognosis. Most women in Pakistan present with advanced-stage
disease unlike other countries, which have established population-based screening, meaning that they have
complicated treatment requirements and use a substantial amount of intensive care services. This gap is caused by
several factors such as lack of access to screening facility, particularly in the rural setting, financial reasons,
sociocultural stigma, ignorance, and insufficient health systems infrastructure. These impediments contribute to the
lack of opportunities to diagnose and act in a timely manner, thus causing the rise of the cost of advanced disease,
complications after the operation, and hospital stays in critical care. New strategies including mobile mammography
unit, digital health, tele-radiology and risk-based screening models have the potential to ensure more access and
early diagnosis. To decrease late-stage presentation, decrease the intensive care burden, and increase the outcomes
of breast cancer in Pakistan, policies of national screening, growth of public-privacy partnerships, and sustained
community education are necessary.
Keywords: Breast Cancer, Intensive care, Screening, Late Detection
Citation: Khaliq M, Shaikh ARK, Hussain Z. Breast cancer screening gaps in Pakistan: consequences for late-stage
disease and intensive care burden (Editorial), Anaesth. pain intensive care 2025;30(1):1-3. DOI:
10.35975/apic.v30i1.3094
Received: December 16, 2025; Revised: December 22, 2025; Accepted: December 22, 2025