KRG Delivers on Promise with Advanced Cancer Hospital in Duhok
KRG's Health Minister Barzanji noted that this development is part of a larger network of health projects in Duhok, all aimed at enhancing cancer care and expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a major milestone for public healthcare in the Kurdistan Region, the Minister of Health, Dr. Saman Barzanji, inaugurated a fully renovated cancer treatment and kidney dialysis hospital in Duhok on Tuesday, fulfilling a long-standing promise to ease the burden on patients requiring critical care.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the newly upgraded 'Umêd' Hospital, Dr. Barzanji declared, "Today we opened a very important project in Duhok, as we had promised in previous years to focus on cancer patients."
He emphasized that the launch of this advanced facility ensures cancer patients in the Duhok province will no longer face delays in accessing surgeries or other essential treatments.
The hospital has undergone a comprehensive transformation and now offers an integrated range of medical services, including diagnostic imaging, laboratories, radiation therapy, intensive care units, operating theaters, and pharmaceutical services.
The facility now comprises 160 beds and six operating rooms dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment, marking a significant leap from previous years when only a few beds were available for such patients at Azadi Hospital.
Dr. Barzanji also noted that this development is part of a larger network of health projects in Duhok, all aimed at enhancing cancer care and expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Among the projects are a radiation therapy unit (laser), a children’s cancer treatment facility at Hevi Hospital, and a bone marrow transplant center—all of which will be equipped to meet the full spectrum of oncology needs.
The photo shows a department inside the cancer treatment center. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
“These initiatives reflect the Kurdistan Regional Government’s clear commitment to providing specialized and localized treatment,” Dr. Barzanji said, adding that the cancer rate in the Kurdistan Region remains lower than in other Iraqi provinces. A dedicated government support fund continues to assist in early diagnosis and cancer management.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior regional officials and international partners, including Duhok Governor Dr. Ali Tatar, General Director of Health in Duhok Dr. Afrasiab Musa, Italian Consul General in Erbil Tommaso Sansone, and WHO representative Dr. Jamela al-Raiby. Their presence underscored the coordinated international and regional effort that brought the project to fruition.
Dr. Afrasiab Musa highlighted the $2 million cost of renovating the former emergency hospital into the new cancer center, a project executed in coordination with the World Health Organization and the Italian humanitarian organization AISPO.
He also detailed three additional healthcare projects underway: a kidney transplant center, the expansion of Hevi Hospital for pediatric oncology, and the radiation therapy unit.
“With the completion of these specialized medical centers, residents of Duhok will no longer need to travel to other provinces or abroad for cancer treatment,” Dr. Musa affirmed.
The unveiling of the Umêd Hospital and its associated healthcare projects represents a transformative moment in Duhok’s medical landscape, and a broader testament to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s growing investment in advanced healthcare infrastructure.
These efforts position the Kurdistan Region as a leader in localized, specialized treatment services within Iraq.
