Sulaymaniyah cancer hospital at capacity as expansion plans stall

SULAYMANIYAH — The number of cancer cases in Sulaymaniyah has shown no significant increase compared to last year, according to Dr. Yad Naqshbandi, director of Hiwa Hospital, a specialized cancer treatment center in the governorate. At a press conference on Thursday, Naqshbandi presented data covering both 2023 and the first ten months of 2024, indicating steady case numbers while underscoring the urgent need for the hospital’s expansion due to capacity constraints.

“In 2023, Hiwa Hospital conducted screenings for 6,442 patients, of whom 3,356 were diagnosed with cancer,” Naqshbandi stated. “For the first ten months of this year, we screened 5,866 patients, with 3,151 confirmed cancer cases.” He noted that although the numbers are similar, the hospital’s resources are stretched to the limit, particularly as an increasing number of patients travel to Sulaymaniyah for treatment.

On Sept. 18, Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Health Saman Barzinji noted that the cancer incidence rate in the Kurdistan Region stands at 151 cases per 100,000 people, below the global average of 196.9 cases per 100,000 people. In 2023, the health ministry recorded 9,911 new cancer cases, up from 9,061 in 2022. This represents an average of approximately 27 new cases per day.

According to Naqshbandi, a large proportion of Hiwa Hospital’s patients are not from Sulaymaniyah. “It’s often said that Sulaymaniyah has an exceptionally high rate of cancer cases, but in reality, many of our patients come from other provinces in the Kurdistan region and Iraq as well,” he explained. “Only about 26-30% of our cases are from Sulaymaniyah itself, while over 70% are from other parts of Kurdistan and Iraq.”

Naqshbandi emphasized that early screening remains the most effective strategy for cancer prevention and treatment. “Compared to a decade ago, the cancer rates we’re seeing are stable,” he said, attributing this stability to early diagnosis and ongoing screening programs.

Hiwa Hospital, operating at full capacity, urgently requires expansion, Naqshbandi said. “At this time, Hiwa Hospital has no vacancies, and every bed is occupied,” he remarked, emphasizing the hospital’s vital role in Iraq’s healthcare system. “This hospital serves patients from all across Iraq,” he added.

More than six months have passed since the Cancer Fund Assembly approved Hiwa Hospital’s expansion, but implementation has lagged. “Land for the project has been allocated—a three-acre plot near Hawari Shar Park—but no foundation has been laid,” Naqshbandi said.

The Cancer Fund Assembly in the Kurdistan Region is a governmental initiative established to provide financial support for cancer treatment and related medical services. The fund allocates substantial resources annually to procure medications, equipment, and medical supplies essential for cancer care. In 2023, the KRG invested over 51 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $33.5m) in cancer treatment through this fund.