Govt aims to take cancer care to doorsteps within 5 years

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit said on Saturday that the government is working to bring cancer treatment services to people's doorsteps within the next five years.

He said breast, colorectal and oral cancers were among the most common types in Bangladesh, stressing the importance of public awareness and early preventive measures to reduce the disease burden.

Primary healthcare workers would receive training to help raise awareness, identify early symptoms and guide patients towards timely diagnosis and treatment, he added.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a national stakeholder consultation titled "Strengthening Cancer Care Services in Bangladesh" at a hotel in the capital.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly organised the event.

Dr Muhit said the government had already announced plans to establish cancer hospitals in every divisional city and would also strengthen prevention, regular screening and early diagnosis services.

Tackling cancer is not possible through the Health Ministry alone, he said, adding that it required coordinated efforts from other ministries, including those responsible for science and technology and food.

To ensure coordination, the government would establish a National Cancer Control Programme and a National Cancer Control Council, he said. These initiatives would help formulate effective policies for cancer prevention and control.