Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd. and Purbanchal Cancer Hospital have signed an agreement to provide free air tickets to cancer patients.

Yeti Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer Yubaraj Bista and Purbanchal Cancer Hospital Chair Durga Prasai formalized the agreement on Saturday. The initiative aims to ease travel for cancer patients, said Dr. Birendra Yadav, Medical Superintendent of the hospital.

Located in Birtamod, Purbanchal Cancer Hospital has been operating for the past five years. The 100-bed facility offers advanced cancer treatment, including PET-CT scans, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and other specialized care.

According to Pramish Giri, Public Relations Officer of the hospital, the agreement allows patients from any part of the country to receive a free round-trip air ticket for treatment at the hospital.

Over the past five years, the hospital has treated 6,484 cancer patients. Among newly diagnosed cases, breast cancer accounted for the highest number of patients at 814, followed by 805 cases of lung cancer. Cervical cancer and nose, ear, and throat cancer ranked third and fourth, respectively, in terms of treatment numbers.

Giri also noted that under the government's Medical Treatment Program for Deprived Citizens, patients from low-income families receive free treatment worth up to Rs 100,000 at the hospital. -- RSS