Ferozuddin Feroz, the Afghan minister of public health, on Tuesday attended opening ceremonies at two health centers in the northern province of Balkh. One will treat cancer patients and the other is equipped to handle possible coronavirus cases.
Officials said that 20,000 people in Afghanistan suffer from different types of cancer, and between 10,000 and 12,000 die from the disease every year.
The minister said that by opening the center “100 million dollars will be saved.”
“We can treat the disease with drugs. We can diagnose it, and perform operations,” said Feroz.
“There were some patients in critical condition and we advised them and told them that we can also treat the cancer, preventing the need for them to go to other countries,” said a doctor at the hospital.
Meanwhile, residents of Balkh province praised the opening of the hospitals but criticized the carelessness of the doctors.
“I have come here last day no one is willing to ask the patient,” said Mohammad Ismail, resident of Balkh.
“A patient is admitted to the hospital, but drugs are not available here. We buy all drugs from bazaars,” said Mohammad Anwar, another resident of Balkh.
This follows a cancer diagnostic and treatment hospital’s opening in western Herat province. The hospital in Herat has capacity to admit 10 patients at a time.
An investigation in Herat province revealed that 1,003 women were reported with breast cancer over the past year in the province.
