Sushil Koirala Prakhar Hospital offers free beds, meals for needy

 By Our Correspondent, Nepalgunj, Sept. 24: Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Khajura, Banke, is providing 41 general beds to poor patients free of charge.

 In addition, the hospital has made arrangements for free meals for cancer patients receiving treatment at the facility.

 Executive Director of the hospital, Dr. Niraj Bhattarai, explained that these arrangements have been made in compliance with the government's policy of offering free treatment services to financially disadvantaged cancer patients.

 Though the government has approved 100 beds for the hospital, they can currently operate only 55 beds, including four ICU beds and 41-day care beds due to space and manpower constraints, said Dr. Bhattarai.

 He mentioned that all the beds in the hospital are currently being occupied by patients.

 Some patients are even being treated in the passageway, and others have had to be turned away due to the hospital's limited space, he added.

 He mentioned that a committee has been formed, comprising the head of administration, head of account, head of nursing, and representatives from the hospital development committee to recommend the names of needy patients.

 The patients recommended by the committee would be provided free bed and free food, he said.

 Just a few days ago, the hospital also started operating an attendant house for the caregivers of seriously ill patients.

 According to the hospital development committee, the hospital is being upgraded to a specialised cancer hospital.

 The committee has announced that the linear accelerator (LINAC) equipment will soon be operational in the hospital, allowing for the provision of all cancer treatment facilities from the hospital.

 LINAC, is a device mostly used for external beam radiation treatment for patients with uterus cancer, mouth cancer, breast cancer, nasal cancer, ear, and throat cancer.

 Currently, patients from the region are compelled to travel to Bharatpur and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospitals to receive this service, where they face waiting times ranging from one month to 45 days.