On December 17, 2024, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa issued a Directive on Establishing a Working Group in charge of Supporting the Construction of the Second National Oncology Center of Mongolia.

The Working Group consists of Minister of Finance Javkhlan Bold, Minister of Health Munkhsaikhan Togtmol, Members of Parliament Chinburen Jigjidsuren, Altanshagai Narantsetseg, and Munkhbayasgalan Luvsanbyambaa, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Byambasuren Urgamal, State-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Development Batkhuu Idesh, Secretary of the Nuclear Energy Commission and Head of the Executive Office Manlaijav Gun-Aajav, Rector of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences Damdindorj Boldbaatar, and Director-General of the National Oncology Center Erdenekhuu Nansalmaa. Senior Advisor to the President Khurelbaatar Nyamdavaa was appointed as the Head of the Working Group.

Members of the Working Group led by Senior Advisor Khurelbaatar held a briefing and provided details on the initiative. The Working Group is responsible for providing professional and methodological support for the construction of the Second National Oncology Center, which will serve as a comprehensive facility for cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and training. The Working Group will also work towards addressing the causes and conditions that lead to cancer, strengthening interdisciplinary responsibility and accountability, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, accessible services that meet international standards.

The Second National Oncology Center will be located on 12 hectares of land near the “Nairamdal” International Children’s Camp, the 34th khoroo of Songinokhairkhan district of Ulaanbaatar. The facility, covering 95,000 square meters, is projected to be completed and operational within 4-5 years. Specifically, the necessary funding for its infrastructure, which is equivalent to MNT 38 trillion, has been included in the 2025 State Budget of Mongolia.

Cancer-related incidence, mortality, and quality of medical services have become pressing issues in Mongolia. The mortality rate from cancer in Mongolia is 24 percent, which is considerably higher than the global average of 17 percent. Additionally, about 70 percent of cancer patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease.

It is crucial to improve the early detection, reduce cancer-related deaths, and ensure that citizens can access medical services within their local areas. To improve cancer treatment services in the aimags, funding for the necessary medical equipment and infrastructure has been included in the local budgets.