Cancer patients camp overnight for treatment appointments in Bangladesh

Cancer patients in Bangladesh are camping outside hospitals from the early hours of morning to secure appointments for treatment, underscoring severe capacity constraints within the healthcare system. The practice, reported across major treatment centres, reveals the urgency with which patients seek access to specialist care and the limited availability of appointment slots.

The midnight queues reflect a broader challenge facing Bangladesh's oncology sector, where demand for cancer treatment far outpaces available resources. Patients and their families arrive hours in advance, sometimes spending entire nights waiting, to ensure they can book slots with oncologists and access radiotherapy or chemotherapy services.

Healthcare officials acknowledge the bottleneck in cancer care services. The concentration of treatment facilities in major urban centres, particularly Dhaka, forces patients from across the country to travel considerable distances while competing for limited appointments. This system places significant strain on patients already dealing with the physical and financial burden of cancer treatment.

The issue has prompted calls for increased investment in oncology infrastructure and specialist training. Advocacy groups argue that expanding cancer treatment capacity—including establishing new centres in regional areas—is essential to prevent patients from facing such obstacles when seeking potentially life-saving care.