More than 1.5 million people in Afghanistan are living with cancer, with around 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to the Afghanistan Cancer Foundation, highlighting a growing public health crisis in the country.
Shafiq Shinwari, head of the Afghanistan Cancer Foundation, said cancer has become the second-leading cause of death in Afghanistan after cardiovascular disease. He warned that the number of patients continues to rise, while many cases are detected at advanced stages due to limited screening and diagnostic services.
Breast and cervical cancer are reportedly the most common forms among women, while lung, stomach, prostate and colorectal cancers are frequently diagnosed among men.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health says cancer treatment services have been expanded across the country. According to ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, 50-bed cancer treatment centers are operating in each regional zone, while a 200-bed specialized oncology hospital is available in Kabul.
The ministry also reported that nearly 90,000 cancer patients were registered and received outpatient treatment at public health facilities during the past year.
Health organizations have warned that shortages of oncology specialists, diagnostic laboratories, radiotherapy facilities and affordable medicines continue to limit access to treatment. Many patients who can afford it travel abroad for specialized care.
Experts say smoking, tobacco use including naswar, unhealthy diets, pollution, poor hygiene, low awareness and limited preventive screening are among the factors contributing to the rising cancer burden.
The foundation’s estimate of 50,000 new cases annually is significantly higher than the approximately 20,000 annual cases reported by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health in 2020.