PM lays foundation stone for Dhulikhel Hospital’s Trauma and Emergency Center

Kavrepalanchowk: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today laid a foundation stone for a new building to be constructed for trauma and emergency services of the Dhulikhel Hospital in Kavrepalanchowk.

The facility is going to be constructed with the financial support of the Government of Japan. The government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had signed an agreement in this regard.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister stated that development is a gradual process, requiring integrity and continuous effort to turn dreams of transformation into reality. ‘Those who envisioned an advanced healthcare facility here many years ago have contributed to making it a reality today,’ he said.

He also praised the local community for contributing land for the hospital’s construction and expressed hope that the hospital would leave no stone unturned in delivering quality services to those in need.

As per the latest agreement reached between the two sides on May 16, the Government of Japan will provide an additional grant of 3.02 billion yen for the improvement project of the Trauma and Emergency Centre (internal grant), according to the hospital.

The agreement for the grant assistance was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ikuina Akiko.

Although a grant agreement of 3.02 billion yen had already been signed between the two sides in 2023 for the implementation of the project, the additional grant was ensured as the initial budget had been insufficient to implement the project due to price rise and other financial issues.

As per the agreement, Japan shall bear 60% of the cost for the building and 40% for all sorts of medical devices.

The facility will have a five-story building with three levels of basements, a parking lot, ICUs, three operating theatres, HDUs, laboratories, a pharmacy, waste management, and all other necessary service mechanisms. Health and Population Minister Pradip Paudel was also present on the occasion.