By Siraj Khan
Nepalgunj, Feb. 4: By providing various health services within the district, the Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Khajura, Banke, has eased life in the entire western region of the country. 
After the operation of the hospital, the locals are not anymore compelled to visit Lucknow, Delhi and Mumbai of India or Chitwan within the country in search of quality health services. 

Dr. Krishna Acharya, chief of the hospital, said, “In the span of a year, we have conducted 532 surgeries and have ascertained the presence of cancer in around 800 suspected patients via histopathology method.”
Dr. Acharya said that the introduction of surgery and histopathology services had ensured easy access to health services to people residing in western Nepal.

“We have also continued the chemotherapy services to the patients diagnosed with cancer,” he added. 
According to Dr. Acharya, currently around 300 patients are benefiting from chemotherapy services provided by the hospital. 
He added that the hospital had added nine medical specialists, six medical officers and 14 staff nurses in the span of one and a half years. 

Along with consulting surgeries, the consultant surgeons and gynaecological cancer disease specialists deployed in the hospital have been providing treatment services related to general medicine, nose, ears, neck, skin disease and diseases relating to women among others. 

In coordination with the Bhaktapur-based Nepal Korea Hospital, and gynaecological cancer specialists of Nepal Medical College, Nepalgunj Medical College and cancer specialists of Bheri Hospital, the Khajura-based Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital has been conducting surgeries related to gynaecological cancer via binocular method.  

The hospital used to provide services to 20 to 25 patients daily last year. Currently, around 150 patients visit the hospital daily seeking various health services. 
Along with increasing flow of patients, the income of hospital has also soared, as it earns around Rs. 100,000 per day. 

Dr. Acharya said that the hospital had aimed to introduce Bakri therapy by mid-February. “We are also preparing to set up an Intensive Care Unit with six beds. Currently, there are 40 beds in the hospital. We are planning to add 60 more beds,” he added. 

Dr. Acharya also said that the procurement procedure of a linear accelerator (LINAC) machine after the government assured to provide Rs. 294 million has moved ahead, and the hospital would add the radiation therapy service within next four months.