National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital's capacity doubled

The government has doubled the capacity of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital to cope with a “rising” number of cancer patients.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim on Sunday inaugurated the extension of the facility to 300-beds and said the government would work on promoting cancer treatment across Bangladesh.

“We freed Bangladesh of many infectious diseases. But cancer has become widespread now. We have to deal this,” he said.

He promised the creation of new posts and purchase of equipment wherever needed.

Bangladesh does not have any data on the exact number of cancer patients. Doctors, citing estimates, say over 250,000 people are being afflicted each year.

But the treatment facilities have remained confined to capital Dhaka.

Daden Chowdhury, 55, is being treated for laryngeal cancer. His wife Razia Begum told bdnews24.com that they came from Madaripur. She said the local hospital had referred them to Dhaka.

Cancer epidemiologist Dr Md Habibullah Talukder Ruskin told bdnews24.com that treatment facilities had not “improved” despite cancer’s “rising trend”.

“People have to sell their lands to pay for treatment. They have no other option,” he said, suggesting “decentralisation” of this costly medication.

He said there could be a regional cancer centre in every division.

“Why must a patient from Satkhira come to Dhaka when you have a public medical college at Khulna?” he asked.

Currently, 14 medical college hospitals have the cancer department. “But only eight can offer services, most of them with very old equipment,” Dr Ruskin said.

Doctors say primary detection is the key to better cancer treatment.