Cancer patients in Bangladesh are facing limited treatment capacity, equipment shortages, specialist gaps and high costs, leaving thousands without timely care, a report published on August 2, 2026 said. About 200,000 new cases are detected annually, while the country has an estimated 1.3 million to 1.5 million cancer patients and roughly 150,000 cancer deaths each year. Delayed diagnosis, concentration of services in Dhaka and unaffordable private treatment add to the pressure on patients and families.

Nine government medical college hospitals providing cancer care have only 12 radiotherapy machines, with several out of service. At the country’s only full-fledged government cancer hospital, five of six radiotherapy machines were reported broken. Bangladesh has 12 PET-CT centres across public and private sectors. The health directorate lists about 300 radiation oncologists, 100 gynaecological and surgical oncology specialists, 50 medical oncologists and about 200 nuclear medicine specialists.

Treatment can cost Tk700,000 to Tk1.2 million in government hospitals and more than Tk2 million privately, the report said. It cited findings that 80 percent of patients fail to complete needed treatment because of financial hardship. The government has moved to accelerate construction of eight cancer hospitals in eight divisions and plans to recruit doctors and 100,000 health workers. Experts called for a national cancer registry, early screening and decentralised care.