Free Air Tickets to be provided for Cancer Patients

BIRTAMODE, FEBRUARY 2: An agreement has been signed between Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd. and Purbanchal Cancer Hospital to offer free air tickets to cancer patients travelling for treatment.

Yeti Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Yubaraj Bista and Purbanchal Cancer Hospital Chair Durga Prasai formalised the agreement yesterday.

Dr. Birendra Yadav, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, stated that this initiative will greatly assist cancer patients in accessing treatment. Located in Birtamod, the 100-bed Purbanchal Cancer Hospital has been operating for the past five years, providing advanced cancer treatment services, including PET-CT scans, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and other medical procedures.

According to Pramish Giri, Public Relations Officer of Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, the facility allows patients from any part of the country to avail of one-time free air travel to and from the hospital.

In the past five years, 6,484 cancer patients have received treatment at the hospital. Among newly diagnosed cases, breast cancer (814 patients) and lung cancer (805 patients) were the most common, followed by cervical cancer and head, neck, and throat cancers.

Additionally, under the government's Poor Citizen Medical Treatment Program, financially disadvantaged patients at Purbanchal Cancer Hospital can receive up to Rs. 100,000 in free treatment, Giri added.