Nepal’s Health Minister Pradeep Paudel has announced that 37 essential and rare cancer medicines will now be available free of cost at government hospitals, with support from international organizations.
Government to Provide Free Cancer Medicines
The Government of Nepal has initiated a new healthcare measure to offer free cancer medicines at state-run hospitals. Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, announced that 37 types of rare and essential cancer drugs will now be provided free of charge to patients at government facilities.
International Support to Address Medicine Shortage
To reduce the need for patients to seek cancer medicines abroad, international organization Direct Relief, through One Heart Worldwide, has committed to supplying these medicines for five years. The initiative aims to address the shortage of cancer drugs in Nepal.
First Batch of Medicines Distributed
The first shipment of the cancer medicines has already arrived in Nepal and has been distributed to four government cancer hospitals located in:
- Bharatpur
- Bhaktapur
- Banke
- Kathmandu
No Government Funding Required
Minister Paudel stated that this program has been implemented without requiring state investment, aiming to provide immediate relief to economically disadvantaged citizens. He also noted that efforts are ongoing to import other necessary cancer medicines in the future.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
