Rawalpindi: Patients suffering from early stage localised tumours in Rawalpindi can now access specialised cryoablation therapy at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) without financial burden, following the official rollout of a public healthcare initiative offering the procedure free of cost.

Cryoablation is a precise, image guided technique that destroys malignant tissue by rapidly freezing the target tumour down to approximately 180°C, followed by controlled thermal application raising temperatures up to 100°C. The process causes lethal cellular disruption to cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue structure.

For the initial implementation phase, health authorities have provided 15 specialised ablation probes. Given that each high tech probe incurs a market cost of around Rs 1.6 million and is restricted to single patient use, providing the procedure free of charge marks a significant relief for underprivileged patients who would otherwise find such advanced interventions cost-prohibitive.

To ensure maximum efficacy, clinical selection criteria restrict eligibility to primary or secondary tumours measuring 2 centimetres or less in the liver, lungs, breast, or kidneys.

Patient selection involves a collaborative filtering framework across major regional tertiary centres, including Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, and PKLI. Shortlisted candidates undergo expert multi disciplinary consultation with oncology specialists at Noor Hospital in Islamabad before undergoing the procedure at HFH. Following the completion of the first 15 procedures, additional probe shipments are expected to expand treatment availability to a wider patient pool.