Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jun 14:38:100615.
doi: 10.1016/j.lansea.2025.100615. eCollection 2025 Jul.

Cancer registries in Pakistan: a scoping review

Sehar Salim Virani  1   2 , Kaleem Sohail Ahmed  2 , Megan Springer  3 , Muzamil Hussain  4 , Leslie Christensen  5 , Farah Asif  6 , Shahid Pervez  7 , Zehra Fadoo  8 , Asim Belgaumi  8 , Syed Nabeel Zafar  2   9
Affiliations
Review

Cancer registries in Pakistan: a scoping review

Sehar Salim Virani et al. Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia. .

Abstract

Cancer incidence is increasing globally. Although Pakistan does not have a unified national cancer registry, several institutional and regional cancer registries can provide vital information for cancer planning. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases and grey literature. Data were extracted regarding registry characteristics, data collection methods, and study details, and findings were summarised narratively to highlight key attributes and data gaps. Of 3714 unique abstracts screened, 102 studies met inclusion criteria, including 92 reporting registry data and 10 describing registry characteristics without patient-level data. Seventeen cancer registries were identified, with varying scope and geographical coverage. Only 19 of Pakistan's 129 cities contribute data to at least one registry. Data collection methods ranged from paper-based forms to advanced software systems. The Karachi Cancer Registry was noted for its high research output. Funding sources were limited, and several registries faced operational challenges. This Review highlights Pakistan's fragmented cancer registry landscape. While important policy-level data can be obtained from existing registries, there is an urgent need for strategic efforts and stakeholder collaboration to establish a national cancer registry system. Such a system could enhance cancer surveillance, inform public health efforts, and serve as a model for similar initiatives in south and southeast Asia.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer registry; Pakistan; Registry; Scoping review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

SNZ receives partial salary support for research from the NIH/NCI Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program Grant P30 CA014520-48S4. We declare no other competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of publications by cancer registries in Pakistan over the years.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of centers contributing to at least one cancer registry in cities across Pakistan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. White M.C., Babcock F., Hayes N.S., et al. The history and use of cancer registry data by public health cancer control programs in the United States. Cancer. 2017;123 Suppl 24(Suppl 24):4969–4976. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pain D., MacDuffie E., Martei Y.M., et al. Barriers to implementing a quality improvement program in low- and middle-income countries: adequacy of resources. JCO Glob Oncol. 2024;10 - PMC - PubMed
    1. 7th population and housing census - detailed results. https://www.pbs.gov.pk/digital-census/detailed-results Avaialble on:
    1. Ferlay J., Ervik M., Lam F., et al. International Agency for Research on Cancer; Lyon, France: 2024. Global cancer observatory: cancer today.https://gco.iarc.who.int/today Avaialble on:
    1. Begum S., Khan M.R. Need for a national cancer registry in Pakistan: challenges and way forward. J Pakistan Med Assoc. 2023;73(7):1475–1479. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources