President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday inaugurated the Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Center (NCHRC) in Harisiddhi of Lalitpur.

The 75-bed specialty hospital was built at an investment of Rs 1.75 billion and is spread over 24 ropanis of land. 

With the specialty hospital starting its operation, President Bhandari said cancer patients who otherwise had to go abroad now can get treatment within the country. 

Dr Sudeep Shrestha, executive chairman of the NCHRC, said the state-of-the-art facility is well-equipped to treat all kinds of cancer.

“We are equipped with advanced international standard radiation equipment and best doctors and health professionals,” said Dr Shrestha. “We hope this establishment would help decrease the number of patients going for treatment abroad, thereby getting treatment at home and saving a lot of money.” 

 A majority of the shareholders of the hospital, affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, are family members of cancer patients. 

Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi appreciated the NCHRC team’s efforts to make the project a success. 

He also urged Nepali doctors working abroad to return home and serve people at home from hospitals like NCHRC which are providing international standard services. Health Minister Gagan Thapa laid stress on preventing measures of cancer and encouraged those people who can afford to utilise screening facilities. 

“Cancers can be detected at earlier stages if routine screening is done. I urge urban citizens to seek the services. In rural areas, where such facilities are not accessible, the Health Ministry aims to provide basic cancer screening facilities in 1,000 health posts this fiscal year,” said Thapa. 

According to the hospital, it has allotted 15 percent of beds to the poor and needy and will provide free treatment to these people. 

According to government statistics, 44 percent deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases while around 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year.