An agreement has been reached between the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital in Birtamode, Jhapa and the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital based in New Delhi, India, on the exchange of research, treatment, technology and facilities for cancer treatment.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr Birendra Yadav, Medical Director of Purbanchal Cancer Hospital and Dr Sudhir Kumar Rawal, Medical Director of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center at a program held on Saturday.

The MoU has been signed with the objective of exchanging support on various field of medical science between two advanced hospitals in South Asia and thereby make the treatment of cancer more reliable and accessible in Nepal, said Dr Yadav. According to the agreement, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital will provide telemedicine services to the patients undergoing treatment at the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, while doctors at the hospital will be trained in robotic surgery.

There was a compulsion to come to India for reliable treatment of cancer but with the help of advanced treatment methods and equipment in the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, there is a possibility that patients will get better treatment in Nepal itself, said Dr Rawal. The number of Nepalis coming to our hospital for cancer treatment is around 15 percent, he added.

Concessions will be provided to patients who need additional treatment in New Delhi on the referral of the Purbanchal Hospital. Speaking at the MoU exchange program, Director of B&C Hospital, Prof Dr Umesh Sharma expressed the belief that Nepali patients will get better cancer treatment through the cooperation and expansion of relationship with Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital.

Public relations officer of the hospital, Pramis Giri, shared that around 200 patients are receiving healthcare services daily at the hospital. The Purbanchal Cancer Hospital was established in 2020.