Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi has started providing an advanced cancer treatment using a cryoablation machine, with the procedure being offered completely free of charge to eligible patients.
The hospital has received 15 cryoablation probes for the first phase of the programme, allowing 15 patients to undergo the treatment initially.
Each probe costs approximately Rs1.6 million and is designed for use on a single patient. The treatment programme therefore represents a significant investment in providing advanced cancer care to patients without charging them treatment fees.
15 Patients to Receive Cryoablation
In the first phase, 15 cancer patients will be selected for cryoablation treatment.
Screening of eligible patients has already started at four hospitals in Rawalpindi. Patients will be assessed according to their type of cancer, tumour size and suitability for the procedure.
The participating hospitals include Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital and PKLI.
Once eligible patients have been identified, their cases will be referred for further evaluation before treatment.
Liver, Lung, Breast and Kidney Cancer Included
The cryoablation programme will consider patients suffering from liver, lung, breast and kidney cancers.
However, eligibility is subject to a key condition: the tumour must be no larger than 2 centimetres.
Patients with tumours exceeding 2cm will not be eligible for the procedure under the current programme.
The selection criteria are intended to identify patients for whom cryoablation is considered suitable based on the size and location of the tumour.
How Cryoablation Treatment Works
Cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme temperatures to destroy abnormal tissue.
During the treatment, specialised probes are inserted to target the cancerous tumour. The affected tissue is then exposed to extremely low temperatures, reaching as low as minus 180 degrees Celsius.
The tumour is subsequently exposed to temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius as part of the treatment process.
The extreme temperature changes are used to destroy the targeted cancerous tissue while allowing doctors to focus treatment on the affected area.
Treatment to Be Provided Free of Charge
One of the key features of the programme is that eligible patients will receive the treatment completely free of charge.
Patients selected for the first phase will not be required to pay treatment fees for the cryoablation procedure.
Given the high cost of the specialised probes, the programme could provide access to an advanced treatment option for patients who may otherwise face significant medical expenses.
The initial supply of 15 probes will support treatment for the first group of selected patients.
Specialist Evaluation Before Treatment
Patients will undergo medical assessment before receiving cryoablation.
Selected cases will be evaluated in consultation with specialist doctors from NORI Hospital in Islamabad.
This assessment will help doctors determine whether the procedure is appropriate for each individual patient.
The involvement of specialist teams is intended to ensure that patients meet the required medical criteria before undergoing the procedure.
Four Hospitals to Refer Patients
Patients can be identified and referred through four hospitals in the Rawalpindi area.
These include Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital and PKLI.
The screening process will identify patients who meet the programme’s eligibility criteria, particularly regarding cancer type and tumour size.
After referral, selected patients will undergo specialist evaluation before final treatment arrangements are made.
More Patients Could Receive Treatment
The first phase is limited to 15 patients because 15 single-use probes have initially been provided.
Each probe can only be used for one patient and costs around Rs1.6 million.
Authorities plan to provide additional probes after the first 15 procedures are completed, allowing the programme to expand to more eligible patients.
This phased approach will enable the hospital to begin providing the treatment while additional supplies are arranged.
New Option for Cancer Patients in Rawalpindi
The introduction of cryoablation at Holy Family Hospital adds another treatment option for selected cancer patients in the Rawalpindi region.
The programme combines screening at multiple hospitals with specialist evaluation before treatment and provides the procedure without charges for eligible patients.
For the first phase, patients with liver, lung, breast or kidney tumours measuring up to 2cm can be considered.
As the programme progresses and additional probes become available, more patients may be able to access the treatment.
The initiative marks an expansion of advanced cancer treatment services at Holy Family Hospital while providing selected patients with access to the procedure at no cost.
