Help fight Lung Cancer with Patients’ Aid at JPMC

Cancer is no longer just a health concern, it’s a humanitarian crisis. Affecting millions across the globe, it strikes families without warning, cutting lives short and burdening those left behind. In Pakistan, cancer diagnoses are increasing at an alarming rate, with lung cancer emerging as one of the most dangerous and under-addressed forms of the disease.

From Karachi’s urban centers to rural communities, the lack of early diagnosis and access to specialized treatment makes lung cancer particularly deadly. Among all forms of cancer, lung cancer remains one of the deadliest. It’s often diagnosed late and disproportionately affects those with limited access to advanced diagnostics and care. According to the IDC 2023 report, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Pakistan, with thousands of new cases diagnosed every year, many of them too late for curative treatment.

International Lung Cancer day 2025

To confront this growing threat, the Patients’ Aid Foundation at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) observes Lung Cancer Day each year on August 1st. This day is more than a reminder, it’s a movement to raise awareness, advocate for early screenings, and break down the financial barriers that prevent patients from getting life-saving care.

Through this annual international observance, Patients’ Aid sends a powerful message: no one should die because they cannot afford to live.

The transformed Oncology Department at JPMC

Every year, thousands of people across Pakistan are diagnosed with lung cancer, often too late for effective treatment. But what if the fight didn’t have to end there? What if every patient, regardless of income, had access to the most advanced cancer care, completely free of cost?

Thanks to the relentless efforts of Patients’ Aid Foundation, that hope is already a reality at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) now home to Pakistan’s first and only free cancer care facility. The Oncology Department at JPMC has transformed from an under-resourced facility into one of Karachi’s leading cancer hospitals now, offering advanced cancer care completely free of cost. 

Today, the department includes dedicated Oncology OPDs, consultant clinics, day care chemotherapy units, radiotherapy suites, and advanced imaging and cancer screening services. In 2023–2024 alone, over 104,000 new patients received consultations and care, 14,527 patients were provided with chemotherapy, and 10,127 patients received radiotherapy, all at no cost. This impact reflects a deep commitment to restoring health, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.

This transformation stands as a testament to the power of collective goodwill, driven by donations, medical experts, and a foundation that believes healthcare is a basic human right. Support the cause by donating today, every rupee brings hope.

JPMC is Pakistan’s Free Cancer Care Facility

One of the most revolutionary contributions by Patients’ Aid Foundation has been the installation of CyberKnife and Tomotherapy systems at JPMC, making it the first cancer hospital in Pakistan to offer these advanced treatments free of cost.

• CyberKnife: A painless, non-invasive, high-precision radiation treatment ideal for lung cancer patients who are not eligible for surgery. It targets tumors precisely, minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. In 2023–2024, 463 patients were treated in 1,836 sessions, saving $5,000–$9,000 per patient in international treatment costs, all provided completely free. For patients once left without options, CyberKnife offers a second chance at life.

• Tomotherapy: A cutting-edge radiotherapy system that combines real-time imaging and targeted radiation in one integrated solution. Especially effective for cancers like lung, breast, and prostate, it adjusts to tumor movement with each breath, ensuring comfort and precision. In the past year, 329 patients received 7,395 therapy sessions, improving survival rates and significantly reducing side effects. 

The installation of a second advanced Radixact X9 positions JPMC’s Radiation Oncology Department among just 10 centers globally equipped with two CyberKnives and two TomoTherapy systems.

Together, these innovations have made JPMC the only hospital on the planet offering world class medical care, at zero cost to patients.

Patients’ Aid enables First Free PET-CT Cyclotron facility in Pakistan at JPMC

Early detection is one of the most critical factors in the fight against cancer, and the Patients’ Aid Foundation ensured that JPMC was equipped to provide it.

Lung cancer, like many other forms of cancer, becomes far more treatable when it’s caught early. That crucial window, before the first symptom, before the first pain, can mean the difference between life and loss. 

Recognizing the life-saving power of timely diagnosis, Patients’ Aid Foundation, in partnership with the Government of Sindh, took a bold step, introducing Pakistan’s first and only free-of-cost PET-CT Cyclotron facility at JPMC. This state-of-the-art imaging technology doesn’t just see cancer, it sees it before it has a chance to spread, often before a single symptom appears. Because when cancer is silent, technology must speak louder.

In 2023–2024 alone, over 2,000 PET-CT scans were performed at no cost, giving thousands a fighting chance they might never have had. It was early detection that brought healing. It was early detection that sparked hope. It was early detection that gave life back.

No one left behind, because healthcare is a right

Since 1990, Patients’ Aid Foundation has worked tirelessly to ensure that no patient is denied care because of financial hardship. Beyond cancer and other medical assistance, the Foundation supports the Healthcare Assistance Department at JPMC as well, helping patients:

• Access life-saving medications
• Navigate hospital systems
• Receive free diagnostics and clinical support

109,000+ patients received free medicines last year. For many, that support was the difference between life and loss.

This lung cancer day, let’s be the reason someone survives 

Behind every statistic is a human being, afraid, in pain, uncertain. But thanks to donors, volunteers, and the enduring belief that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, JPMC is a place where no one fights alone.

This Lung Cancer Day, stand with us.

• Donate now to Patients’ Aid Foundation
• Help us continue to save lives, not someday, but today

Together, we’re not just treating cancer. We’re restoring hope. Rewriting futures. And reminding every patient: you are not alone.