Bir Hospital launches free brain tumor surgery till June 30

KATHMANDU: The Bir Hospital, the oldest hospital in the country, has launched free brain tumor surgeries effective from today.

According to Hospital’s National Brain Tumor Centre’s chair Prof Dr Rajib Jha, the service was launched coinciding with the World Brain Tumor Day that is observed on June 8 each year.

The service will be available till June 30.

Typically, the cost of such surgeries in other hospitals ranges from Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000, according to Dr Jha.

He says that brain tumors develop when body cells undergo abnormal and uncontrollable growth. The risk of brain tumors increases with age due to a weakened immune system. Additionally, patients with Hepatitis and HIV/Aids are more vulnerable to lymphoma tumors.

Exposure to radiation, such as that from X-rays and CT scans, can also contribute to the development of brain tumors.

According to hospital sources, Bir Hospital receives an average of six to eight brain tumor cases, with a nationwide tally of around 100 cases.

Bir Hospital also holds the record of performing the first brain tumor surgery in the country.