Kathmandu, June 7

If you know of someone who has cancer, you would know the importance of early detection, access to cancer diagnostic centers and treatment options, which significantly improve the chances of winning the fight against the disease.

Though there are no national survey records, it is estimated that approximately 30,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year in the country and there are about 20,000 deaths due to cancer in Nepal.

Lung, breast, cervix and abdomen cancer are the most common types of cancer seen in Nepal, primarily because of smoking, drinking, obesity, infection, exposure to radiation and increased use of insecticides and pesticides.

Due to lack of existing cancer diagnostic facility, most people travel to India for treatment.

To bridge the huge need gap in cancer diagnosis and to provide access to world-class cancer care to the people of Nepal, Sooriya diagnostic today inaugurated GE’s Discovery IQ PET-CT scanner in Nepal at its diagnostic centre in Lazimpat.

GE’s revolutionary Discovery IQ PET-CT scanner offers the latest in imaging and screening technology, which is critical for early diagnosis, staging and post treatment monitoring of cancer.

Talking about the inauguration, Dr Kritanjali Koirala, CEO, Sooriya diagnostic said, “Today we fulfilled our dream of starting a PET CT facility and providing access to world-class cancer diagnosis to people in Nepal.

Logistics form a major component of the overall cost of cancer treatment. This centre will ensure that people of Nepal don’t have to travel to India for diagnosis and thus make their overall cost of treatment affordable.”

“Cancer today is emerging as one of the biggest killers in Nepal and it is estimated that deaths due to cancer are at 80 per 100,000 people”, said Milan Rao, president and CEO, GE Healthcare, South Asia and India.

“Late stage detection and lack of access to diagnostic facilities are the biggest issues Nepal faces.

We have made early screening of cancer an important part of our mission and have been working closely with healthcare providers like Sooriya Diagnostics to bring access to world-class cancer care to the people of Nepal.”