KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Former President Ram Baran Yadav is a very lucky person in a country where people of far flung VDCs are deprived of even the basic medicines. The state has never hesitated to loosen its purse strings when it comes to his treatment.
The government has decided to provide Rs 6 million to former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for the treatment of his prostate cancer in the United States.
A cabinet meeting held last week had decided to pay for the business class tickets to and from USA and USD 300 daily allowance to the former president.
Likewise, three aides who will accompany him to the US will receive USD 150 as daily allowances and their air tickets will also be covered by the government.
Around two months ago, the government had provided Rs 1 million to Yadav for medical check up in India, during which his prostate cancer was detected.
In 2013, while he was a sitting president, Yadav had gone to Japan for a medical check-up after it was suspected that he had an intestine cancer.
Although it turned out to be untrue, the good news came at the cost of Rs 10 million to the state coffer.
Doctors in Nepal claim that the prostate cancer seen in the ex-president Yadav is quite common and can be treated in the country. The septuagenarian former president, who himself is a doctor by training and also a former health minister, is quite aware about his ailment.
Prostate cancer is a disease that only affects men. Doctors say that prostate cancer starts with tiny alterations in the shape and size of prostate gland cells- Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).
They claim that nearly 50 percent of all men 50 years and older have PIN.
“Both diagnosis and treatment of the ailment that afflicts the ex- Prseident Yadav is possible in Nepal,” Dr Robin Joshi, a consultant Uro-Oncologist serving at Norvic Hospital, claimed. He said that several hospitals and medical colleges have been providing surgery to treat prostate cancer.
“I am ready to offer services to him and I am capable enough to provide him best treatment,” said Dr Joshi.