Kurdistan Regional Government breaks ground on largest cancer hospital in Erbil

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government announced the groundbreaking of the largest cancer treatment hospital in Erbil as regional health officials report cancer rates remain below the global average.

The new facility, spanning 30,000 square metres, will feature cutting-edge treatment options, including 150 patient beds and 100 chemotherapy units, designed to meet the growing demand for cancer care, according to KRG data.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who laid the foundation stone for the hospital, emphasized the importance of expanding cancer treatment services to combat rising rates of the disease. “The rate of cancer in this region, like the rest of the world, has been increasing. We must focus on reducing the causes of this disease and ensure the best treatments for our patients to alleviate the burden of cancer care,” Barzani stated during the ceremony.

Saman Barzinji, the KRG Minister of Health, highlighted the efforts being made to tackle cancer in the region. He said cancer rates in the Kurdistan Region are lower than the global average, with 151 cases per 100,000 people (0.151%), compared to the global average of 190 cases per 100,000 people (0.19%).

In 2023 alone, the KRG health ministry recorded 9,911 new cancer cases, an increase from the previous year’s 9,061 cases. This equates to 30-35 new cases registered daily.

“The new hospital will provide comprehensive cancer care, including diagnosis, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgical treatments,” Barzinji said. He added that the hospital is expected to be completed within two years and will start serving the public shortly afterward.

Currently, the Kurdistan Region offers cancer treatment at several facilities, including Nanakali Hospital, Rizgari Centre in Erbil, Hiwa Hospital in Sulaymaniyah, and the Azadi Center in Duhok. Barzinji also noted that a new cancer hospital in Duhok is nearing completion.

Acknowledging the financial burden cancer treatments impose, Barzinji said, “Cancer treatments are a significant strain on the KRG’s budget, as most treatments are provided through public hospitals with limited private sector involvement.”

From 2020 to 2023, the KRG allocated over 285 billion dinars (approximately $190 million USD) for cancer treatment and medication, facilitated through the Kurdistan Cancer Assistance Fund. Notably, 40% of patients treated in the region’s hospitals come from other parts of Iraq.