Hiwa Hospital Director: No Justification for Delay in Constructing Sulaymaniyah Cancer Hospital

Kurdistan 05:58 PM - 2024-11-07

Dr. Yad Naqshbandi, Director of Hiwa Hospital.

Dr. Yad Naqshbandi has urged for the urgent acceleration of the construction of the (Hîway Gewre) Great Hope Hospital for cancer treatment, stressing that further delays are no longer acceptable. 

The Director of Hiwa Hospital for Cancer Treatment in Sulaymaniyah remarked during a press conference, covered by PUKMEDIA, that Hiwa Hospital has been operating with the support of donations and is now struggling to meet the growing demand of cancer patients.

Dr. Naqshbandi emphasised that the hospital can no longer continue functioning in this manner and cannot accommodate any more patients beyond its current capacity.

 

Government Must Honour Cancer Support Fund Council’s Recommendations

Dr. Naqshbandi pointed out that six months ago, the Cancer Support Fund Council convened and decided to initiate the construction of the Great Hope Hospital in Sulaymaniyah. A committee was set up to visit Hiwa Hospital as part of the process, but as of now, no visit has taken place. He stressed that the delay in beginning construction cannot continue, as Hiwa Hospital is already overcrowded and unable to manage the increasing pressure. He also noted that 30% of patients are from Sulaymaniyah, while 70% come from other regions of Iraq.

 

Disparity Between Cancer Treatment Facilities in Erbil & Sulaymaniyah

Dr. Naqshbandi also criticised the government for what he described as discrimination between the governorates. He highlighted that while a new cancer treatment hospital has been initiated in Erbil, no steps have been taken to begin construction of the Great Hope Hospital in Sulaymaniyah.

He further revealed that a 12-dunum plot of land near Hawari Shar Park has been allocated by the Sulaymaniyah Municipality for the new hospital, and there is no justification for any further delays.

 

Hiwa Hospital Continues to Serve All Citizens

Dr. Naqshbandi explained that, despite the lack of government support, Hiwa Hospital has managed to install an advanced genetic testing device to assess whether cancer patients require radiation therapy. He added that Hiwa is now the only hospital in Iraq offering such services. 

He said that the government has not provided any financial assistance to Hiwa Hospital, and that most of the necessary medications have been sourced through imports from Sulaymaniyah, with no government funding to support the hospital’s operations.


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