A letter to the editor by Dr. Muhammad Junaid Patel of IHHN and residents Dr. Hassan Aziz, Dr. Nawal Adnan was published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Internal and Emergency Medicine’. The letter titled “The illusion of choice: financial toxicity and the paradox of systemic therapy in advanced HCC within resource-limited settings”, examines the financial burden of systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in resource-limited settings. While palliative systemic treatments may modestly prolong survival or improve symptoms, they are not curative.

Despite limited benefits, many patients and families face substantial financial toxicity from costly therapies. The letter highlights the need for honest discussions about treatment goals, shared decision-making, and early palliative care integration to improve quality of life and support care that aligns with patients’ clinical and socioeconomic realities