The revelation comes as the world observes October as the breast cancer awareness month.

One of the patients has narrated her ordeal saying she experienced shame and embarrassment at the laser section of the hospital where women have to remove their shirts to undergo laser therapy for breast cancer. “There is no other option,” she said.

Talking to the Aaj News, the female patient who requested anonymity said there were two male technicians in the laser section and no women to facilitate.

The patient emphasized that removing the shirt in front of the male staff is a cause of major embarrassment, but patients have been forced to do so because the laser facility is only available at this hospital in the province.

Laser therapy can treat small cancer tumours measuring less than 1.5 centimetres.

Meanwhile, KP Information Minister Mian Feroz Shah in his response to Aaj News report said that the provincial government would not allow anyone to trample over the traditions of the region.

The health department has been instructed to look into the matter, he said.