THE Binaytara Foundation, an international health nonprofit based in Washington, has partnered with the city of Ramgopalpur in Nepal to establish the region’s first public comprehensive cancer center, which will serve about 20, 000 patients annually from Nepal and its neighbor India.
The center, to be located in Nepal’s Province No. 2, is desperately needed in the region as it currently lacks access to state - of - the - art cancer care. The closest comprehensive cancer center is about a 10 - hour drive to Kathmandu, but cultural and financial barriers prevent most residents of Province No. 2 from making that trip.
As such, cancer patients in the region go undiagnosed or are diagnosed at terminal stages, said Binaytara Foundation President Dr. Binay Shah.
“Many patients would hardly visit a doctor, ” he said. “There aren’t adequate cancer services in the region. ”
The cancer center project is estimated to cost $7 million over four years. Costs include construction, training, equipment and more. The local city government of Ramgopalpur will assist in funding the center, although the Binaytara Foundation will provide the majority of the funding and support.