ISLAMABAD: Expanding healthcare cooperation between Pakistan and China is expected to improve cancer treatment services in Pakistan through access to advanced medical technologies, joint research, and physician training, according to health experts and medical institutions involved in recent agreements.

The development follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, Watim Medical & Dental College (WMDC), and the China Pakistan Medical Association (CPMA) under a proposed Health Corridor linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The collaboration aims to strengthen oncology services, support technology transfer, and expand clinical training opportunities for Pakistani healthcare professionals.

Pakistan faces a growing cancer burden, with the World Health Organization estimating around 185,000 new cases and 125,000 cancer-related deaths annually. Health experts say limited early screening, delayed diagnosis, and resource constraints continue to affect survival rates, making international cooperation increasingly important for improving outcomes.

Speaking on the development, CPMA President Dr Muhammad Shahbaz said the partnership is expected to improve access to advanced oncology systems, treatment protocols, and specialized training. He said the initiative includes telemedicine support, joint research, and clinical exchanges designed to strengthen early diagnosis and precision-based treatment in Pakistan.

He added that expanded cooperation could also reduce treatment costs by limiting the need for patients to seek care abroad, while improving the availability of modern cancer therapies within Pakistan.

Medical professionals involved in the agreement said the collaboration will include physician exchange programmes, standardized treatment planning, screening support, curriculum development, and shared research initiatives to improve cancer care delivery and data management systems.

Dr Sohail Attaur Rasool, Professor and Head of Physiology at Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, said the initiative could help improve affordability and expand access to advanced treatment options, while also strengthening clinical research capacity in Pakistan.

Healthcare collaboration between Pakistan and China has steadily expanded in recent years under broader bilateral engagement, with experts viewing such initiatives as a step toward improving medical infrastructure and strengthening long-term institutional cooperation.

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