The Imam Hussain Holy Shrine, under the direct guidance of the Representative of the Supreme Religious Authority, Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi Al-Karbalaey, continues to provide free humanitarian healthcare services to cancer patients in Basra through Al-Thaqalayn Cancer Hospital, part of the Shrine’s Health and Medical Education Authority. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on patients and enhance the healthcare system within the province.
Hospital Director Dr. Ali Samir Al-Kanani told the official website that since the hospital’s opening on May 20, 2024, the Shrine has offered free medical services for an entire year. This support was later extended through September and October, and is now confirmed to continue until the end of the current year, in response to patient needs and in line with the directives of Sheikh Al-Karbalaey.
He revealed that the volume of services provided has exceeded expectations, noting that the hospital has received more than 11,000 patients, with over 40,000 visits to outpatient clinics. The total value of the free medical services provided has exceeded 30 billion Iraqi dinars.
Dr. Al-Kanani explained that the hospital operates an integrated system for cancer diagnosis and treatment. This begins with patient registration through an electronic system, followed by evaluation by a multidisciplinary medical team of more than 17 physicians, who determine the most suitable treatment plan, whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.
The hospital includes 120 beds, including 10 intensive care beds, as well as advanced departments such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and PET scan diagnostics, with more than 2,000 PET scans performed since the hospital opened. It has also carried out over 600 cancer-related surgeries and provided chemotherapy to more than 10,000 cases.
He added that approximately 87% of patients are residents of Basra Province, and the hospital’s opening has significantly reduced the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment, as it now offers services comparable to international medical centers in terms of equipment and medical expertise. All medical staff have at least five years of experience working with advanced technologies, and efforts are ongoing to train local personnel to ensure service sustainability.
Dr. Al-Kanani emphasized that “the Holy Shrine’s initiatives reflect its steadfast humanitarian approach in caring for Iraqi patients and easing their suffering, especially cancer patients who require comprehensive medical and psychological support. We have witnessed deep gratitude and relief from patients and their families, as the hospital has become for many a second home and a place of healing and hope.”
This initiative reaffirms the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine’s ongoing humanitarian and national mission to strengthen Iraq’s healthcare system, promote social solidarity, and uphold responsibility toward patients and those in need. Al-Thaqalayn Hospital in Basra stands not only as a medical facility but as a living embodiment of a sacred commitment to serving humanity and placing human dignity above all else.
اترك تعليق