7,500 Cancer Patients Face Long Waits as Radiation Therapy Appointments Halt
Thousands of cancer patients in Bangladesh are facing uncertainty after the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in Dhaka stopped registering new patients for radiation therapy because of a severe shortage of functioning machines.
According to a report by Bangla Tribune published on October 21, only two of the hospital’s six radiation therapy machines are currently operational. The other four have reportedly been out of service for more than two years.
The crisis has left more than 7,500 patients waiting for treatment, with some existing appointments scheduled as late as the end of 2028. Hospital authorities said new registrations had been suspended for around one and a half months because the facility could no longer manage the growing number of patients.
For many low-income families, the delay is especially distressing because private hospitals are financially out of reach.
Mohammad Mostafa Kamal, who travelled from Gopalganj for treatment after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for a stomach tumour, said he had been unable to secure an appointment for radiation therapy despite waiting at the hospital. Another patient, Sathia Khatun, who underwent surgery for breast cancer, was reportedly told that she might have to wait two years because of the shortage of functioning equipment.
Doctors warn that delays in radiation therapy following cancer surgery can be concerning, depending on the type and stage of cancer and the patient’s treatment plan. Prolonged waiting periods may increase the risk of the disease returning or spreading in some cases.
Hospital director Professor Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon acknowledged the crisis, saying the existing appointment schedule already extends to late 2028. He said the hospital was trying to treat as many patients as possible using its two functioning machines, with new equipment expected around mid-2027.
Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul said the government plans to install 17 new radiotherapy machines at public hospitals by June 2027. Six are planned for specialised hospitals and medical colleges in Dhaka, while the remaining 11 are intended for government hospitals outside the capital.
The minister also pledged to accelerate the installation of cancer treatment equipment and improve access to care beyond Dhaka.
However, for patients who need treatment now, the shortage remains an urgent concern. Health experts say Bangladesh needs not only more modern equipment but also trained specialists and expanded cancer treatment facilities across the country to ensure patients receive timely care.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 21 Oct 2026, 12:00.
