Hospitals see cancer patients only after critical delays
Summary
Many cancer patients in Nepal face critical delays in diagnosis and treatment due to systemic healthcare issues, personal negligence, and financial constraints, often resulting in late-stage detection with limited chances of recovery.
Key Points
- Cancer patients in Nepal often receive diagnosis and treatment after critical delays, with some waiting over six months to start treatment.
- A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer highlights systemic healthcare delays including lack of resources and specialist shortages causing late diagnosis.
- Older individuals and marginalized ethnic groups such as the Dalit community are at higher risk for late cancer diagnosis.
- Government initiatives include capacity-building for health workers, financial aid for treatment, and plans to integrate HPV vaccination into the national immunization program.
