Rawalpindi:The Rawalpindi Medical University Oncology Care Clinic was initiated in 2022 under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Umar, with the vision of establishing a facilitation centre to improve access to cancer care.
The clinic serves a wide catchment area, including Rawalpindi district and surrounding regions extending to Northern areas and Southern Punjab, addressing a critical gap in oncology services. Since its inception, the RMU Oncology Care Clinic has provided a range of essential services, including free-of-cost biopsies, baseline investigations, and diagnostic imaging, significantly reducing barriers to early cancer diagnosis.
Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that to date, the clinic has touched the lives of 962 patients, with over 95 per cent confirmed to have malignancies. Among these haematological malignancies leads the statistics with second none other than gynaecological cancers and breast cancer.
The clinic operates with a dedicated team comprising a medical oncologist, a medical officer, and two nursing staff, ensuring comprehensive ancillary and supportive care, said VC RMU Professor Mohammad Umar (SI) (HI) while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.
He added that all cases at Oncology Care Clinic are managed through a structured, multidisciplinary approach, with regular Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) discussions involving specialists from Surgery, Radiology, Gynaecology, and collaboration with NORI Hospital, ensuring evidence-based and coordinated patient care.
He said that in alignment with this year’s World Cancer Day theme, “United by Unique,” the RMU cancer care clinic reflects the power of collective effort — bringing together institutions, clinicians, donors, and communities to deliver individualized, compassionate cancer care for every patient.
Although the Oncology Care Clinic is not yet a government-approved department, it functions under the Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) umbrella. Its continued operation has been made possible through generous funding and support from RMU alumni and philanthropic partners, including the Tahseen Sheikh Memorial Foundation, Dr. Usman Azhar Sheikh, and Dr. Sohail Aman.
