PM opens cancer hospital, calls for impartial services

Chitwan, Sept. 26 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital constructed with the assistance of the People’s Republic of China at Krishnapur Yagyapuri-7 in Bharatpur Municipality today.

In his inaugural speech, Prime Minister Koirala said B.P.’s wish that had there been a hospital like the one in Mumbai he was admitted to for treatment of cancer been in Nepal, patients like him need not go all the way to bombay or other cities abroad served as the inspiration to build the hospital.

He noted with satisfaction that the only cancer hospital constructed with the Chinese assistance after the restoration of democracy has been constructed outside Kathmandu Valley.

Stating that with the establishment of this hospital the Nepalese people have got the opportunity to undergo treatment for a serious disease like cancer in the country itself, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its assistance.

Even though the hospital has been named after B.P. Koirala, the hospital should be kept away from politics and all treatment services should be fair and impartial, if B.P.’s wish is to be fulfilled, he said.

Speaking about the drnking water problem in the capital city, he said since a plan of action for implementation of the Melamchi project has been worked out as proposed implementation of the projects will start soon.

The Prime Minister inspected all wards of the hospital and talked to various patients admitted to the hospital so as to inquire about the hospital’s services.

He also talked to various medical and non medical staff members and inquired about the works to be carried out for further development of the hospital.

Chief doctor Gisup Nikh Prasi and chairman of the hospital project Dhruba Prasad Sharma apprised the Prime Minister of some problems facing the hospital.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Health Minister Dr Ram Baran Yadav said development projects like the hospital should be implemented outside of the Kathmandu Valley in order to make the people feel democracy.

Minister of State for Health Tirtharam Dangol called for the cooperation of all sectors in preserving and promoting the hospital.

MP Dr Gangadhar Lamsal also called for the cooperation from all sides for the development of the hospital.

From the chair, chairman of the hospital board chairman Dr Dhruba Prasad Sharma spoke of the need for good management in the hospital, while executive director of the board Dr Sampurnananda Dhungana highlighted the main features of the hospital.

Chinese Ambassador Zeng Xuyong expressed gratitude to the government for giving China the opportunity to assist in the construction of the hospital, a meritorious deed in itself.

Member of the hospital board Purna Shakya stressed the need to develop Chitwan into a medical town.

The Chinese government had provided Rs. 820 million for the construction of the hospital, while His Majesty’s Government had borne the cost of constructing a road to the hospital, and developing other infrastructures like drinking water and electricity facilities.

The government had allocated 50.3 hectares of land for the hospital.

On line with the understanding reached with China during Prime Minister Koirala’s visit to China in 2048 B.S. Nepal and China signed an agreement in 2049 B.S. to construct the 100-bed hospital.

Prime Minister Koirala had laid the foundation stone for the hospital in 2053 B.S.

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