The specialized cancer hospital to be developed at L. Gan will have radiation therapy, which would effectively end the decades-old reliance on seeking cancer treatment abroad, according to the Ministry of Health.
One of the major concerns of cancer patients is the lack of treatment options available in the Maldives, as the number of people diagnosed with cancer increases day by day. Moreover, the financial burden of seeking treatment abroad is too much for most people.
Ministry of Health’s Quality Assurance Commissioner, Thasleema Usman said the main concept of the hospital is designed to provide all types of cancer treatments including radiation therapy.
However, the actual status of the hospital is yet to be disclosed by the Planning Ministry. While the cancer treatment center at Hulhumale’ Hospital can treat patients to an extent, radiation therapy will not be available for the foreseeable future.
According to the most recent statistics published by the Ministry of Health, around 125 people died from cancer in 2020 alone. The majority of the deceased were aged between 72-89 years.
