The Ministry of Health and Population has announced that children under the age of 14 will receive free cancer treatment. However, oncologists believe that it should be effectively implemented and communicated to the targeted cluster of population who discontinue treatments due to a lack of funds. On Sunday, the Minister of Health and Population announced that this service would be provided free of charge at government hospitals such as Kanti Children's Hospital in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital in Bhaktapur, and BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan.
According to Minister Paudel's secretariat, plans have been made for free treatment beginning on November 16. The ministry's policy is to provide free cancer treatment based on the state's resources. According to the ministry, this arrangement will first apply to children.
Non-communicable diseases account for more than two-thirds (71 per cent) of all deaths in Nepal. According to public statistics from the ministry's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, cancer accounts for 11 per cent of all deaths. In 2022, there were 22,000 new cancer cases reported in Nepal, with over 14,000 deaths.
Every year, about 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the country. Minister Paudel explained that the decision to provide free treatment is intended to keep these children from dying due to financial constraints, allowing timely medical intervention to save their lives. The ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash .