Proposed Charikot hospital lacking funds to run smoothly

Dolakha: Nyaya Health Nepal, which has provided excellent free health care to many patients in urban and rural areas of Dolakha through the Primary Health Center Charikot (proposed Charikot Hospital) for a period of five years, is officially leaving in a month.

According to Nyaya Health Nepal, there is a problem in running the hospital free of cost due to a lack of funds because of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID 19).

Despite the official announcement of the proposed Charikot Hospital to be turned into a state hospital by the Bagmati state government, the hospital is in crisis due to a lack of manpower and financial management. Locals say that the state government should provide all the necessary services for the state hospital or provide financial support to Nyaya Health for some time to make the hospital able to provide quality services as before.

Although the government has agreed to assist in the construction of physical infrastructure, procurement of medicines, etc. but during the 10-year agreement with the government of Nepal, Nyaya Health Nepal has to look after the maintenance work from the electricity tariff of the hospital, which has led to lack of funds. Dr. Dangal, director of health services at Nyaya Health Nepal, said that there was a problem in the operation of the hospital as the financial condition of the supporting organization was weak due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Possible Health, which operated a hospital in Bayalpata of Achham 11 years ago, had been assisting through the proposed Charikot Hospital through Nyaya Health Nepal after the Gorkha earthquake. According to Dr. Binod Dangal, Director of Health Services, Nyaya Health Nepal has invested Rs. 780 million in the Dolakha district in the last five years. According to Nyaya Health Nepal, 19 health posts in different municipalities of the district have been rebuilt and handed over to the local government.

During the five years of operation of proposed Charikot Hospital by Nyaya Health Nepal, 280,000 OPD tests, 3,900 deliveries, 2100 major surgeries, 55,000 community services, 504 c-section surgeries, 28,890 digital X-rays have been performed. According to Dr. Dangal, director of health services at Nyaya Health Nepal, 12,340 people underwent an ultrasound, and 205,890 people underwent laboratory tests. According to Nyaya Health Nepal, 335,000 people have received direct health care in the last five years.

The proposed Charikot Hospital is currently providing 24-hour emergency services, OPD, IPD, pharmacy, radiologist, laboratory, surgery, dental services, psychosocial counseling, orthopedics, safe motherhood, physiotherapy, and other services.

Dr. Dangal says that the proposed Charikot Hospital should be managed accordingly as the state government has already announced to make it a provincial hospital. Dr. Dangal said that the government can move ahead by signing a new agreement with the state government if there is support from the government for the operation of the hospital until there is no foreign assistance to Nyaya Health Nepal. Otherwise, 99 health workers under Nyaya Health Nepal, including 49 working in the community and 50 workings in the hospital, will be dismissed from November 3, according to Nyaya Health Nepal.

Dr. Binod Dangal, Director of Health Services at Nyaya Health Nepal, said that 50 million rupees worth of medical equipment will be handed over to the hospital when Nyaya Health Nepal leaves the hospital.