Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain informed the National Parliament that Bangladesh records approximately 167,256 new cancer cases and 116,598 cancer-related deaths each year. He cited data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s Globocan 2022 report, noting that around 316,417 patients are currently living with or undergoing treatment for cancer. The information was presented in a written reply during a parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The minister stated that breast and cervical cancers are most common among women, while lung and oral cancers are prevalent among men. To improve data accuracy, population-based and hospital-based cancer registries are being developed through the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital. He also announced that eight divisional government medical college hospitals are implementing projects to establish 100-bed cancer treatment units, expanding radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical oncology services.

These initiatives aim to decentralize cancer care and strengthen diagnostic and treatment capacity across Bangladesh, according to the minister’s parliamentary statement.