DUBAI, UAE - More than 10,000 cancer cases have been recorded in Dhi Qar province, a health official said Thursday, warning that the only specialized center for cancer patients is failing to meet growing needs.

Ahmed al-Khafaji, head of the health committee in the Dhi Qar Provincial Council, told The New Region that the center, which has been operating since 2010, lacks essential medical supplies and many types of treatment.

He added that most private pharmacies also do not stock cancer medicines, forcing patients and their families to endure even greater hardship.

Khafaji said the Dhi Qar Oil Company has begun building a new cancer hospital. The project is still under construction but is expected to “cover part of the shortage and improve medical services for cancer patients in the province.”

Dhi Qar has long faced shortages in health facilities and services, leaving citizens with limited ability to handle medical problems on their own. Local doctors and observers have also reported gaps in services for children with autism.