Cancer cases rise as Sulaymaniyah hospital director calls for increased support

SULAYMANIYAH — Dr. Yad Naqshbandi, director of Hiwa Hospital, said Tuesday that cancer cases, particularly leukemia, are on the rise, with more than 2,000 patients registered at the Sulaymaniyah-based facility in the first half of 2025.

“These cases were recorded in Sulaymaniyah, but that does not mean all of them are residents of the governorate,” Naqshbandi told reporters at a press conference. “A portion of them are from southern Iraq.”

Hiwa Hospital, one of the Kurdistan Region’s primary cancer treatment centers, has seen a growing number of patients travel from outside the region due to limited specialized services elsewhere.

Naqshbandi said many patients are forced to buy medications abroad at their own expense. “Every day, some cancer patients purchase their medicine abroad at great personal cost,” he said. He urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to boost funding for cancer care. “The Council of Ministers and the Minister of Health must work on increasing the budget allocation for cancer patients.”

Hiwa Hospital previously received direct cash transfers from the regional cancer support fund, but income has declined since the financial crisis began, he said. The fund’s main revenue comes from fees collected by general transportation directorates in Sulaymaniyah and other governorates.

The cancer support fund was established under Law No. 11 of 2012 to provide financial and medical support to cancer patients. The law mandates access to treatment, medications, medical equipment, and care both inside and outside the Kurdistan Region.