Cancer in the aftermath of Nepal's earthquakes

Abstract

The massive earthquakes that occurred in Nepal in April and May, 2015, are suggested to have seriously damaged Nepal's economy, with a loss of US$5–10 billion, and decrease in GDP growth from 6% to 2% in 2015.1 Health infrastructure in the 14 earthquake-affected districts of Nepal were seriously damaged, and many are still awaiting reconstruction. Amidst this crisis, health system priorities for addressing the country's burgeoning cancer problem are at risk of being neglected as drugs remain scarce, and absenteeism of doctors has increased due to greater employment insecurity.