Kathmandu, 20 February: Medicines used in the treatment of childhood cancer were handed over to the Ministry of Health and Population during a ceremony today.
World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Nepal Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav and UNICEF Acting Representative to Nepal Budhi Setiawan handed over the medicine to Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel.
It is stated that the received medicine will be used in the treatment of childhood cancer at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Patan Institute of Health Sciences, and Bharatpur Cancer Hospital.
Nepal had received essential medicines for the treatment of childhood cancer under the ‘Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines’ a few days ago. In the first phase, three types of medicines were received for one year. In a joint collaboration between WHO and ‘St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Health and Population and WHO on Chaitra 14, 2080 BS to provide 35 types of medicines used in the treatment of childhood cancer free of charge.
Addressing the medicine handover program, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel said that the government is working to promote preventive methods along with treatment by adopting a national cancer control strategy for cancer control. He said, “We have made arrangements for free treatment so that no child should be deprived of cancer treatment due to financial constraints. We are confident that the support of medicine will make the treatment of children’s cancer effective.”
As per the agreement, the organization will provide 35 types of essential medicines free of cost for the next five years (2025 to 2030). In addition to providing medicines through this program, the Ministry of Health has stated that the necessary ‘refrigerators’ and ‘hygrometers’ will be purchased and handed over to the concerned hospitals for proper storage and management of these medicines.
In Nepal, about 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Due to limited access to services and lack of resources, only about one-third of them receive treatment. The survival rate of children with cancer in Nepal is only 30 percent. In developed countries, this rate is more than 80 percent.
