Four years ago, Narayansthan Health Post got 80 points in the minimum service standard. At that time, the standard had not been implemented in all municipalities and health institutions. Now, when this standard is implemented in all, this post did not get the first place even though it got 92 points. The reason for that is the lack of a building.

Public Health Inspector Rishiram Sharma, in-charge of the health post, said that it was difficult to provide services smoothly as we had to work in the old building. ‘We have been working continuously, but due to the lack of a building, we could not get the number we should get,’ Sharma said, ‘We were afraid that we would not be able to get a proper evaluation of the work until the new building was built.’ The indicator has not been met since the new building has not been built even three years after the construction started.

Lab services, OPD, safe childbirth, pregnancy check-ups and even treatment for tropical diseases are provided here. But since services have to be provided in the building built for the then sub-health post three decades ago, the service has not been effective. The then sub-health post has now been upgraded. The number of posts and the pressure of service recipients has also increased. But Sharma complained that the municipality has not been able to raise the morale of the employees and health workers as it has not been able to make the request to build the building.

DNG Prasad Joint Construction Company signed an agreement in 2080 Baisakh to complete the building within 11 months, but the work has been left unfinished even after two years were extended. According to Engineer Sobin Gharti, only 65 percent of the work on this building has been completed so far. Although the work on the external structure has been completed, much of the internal work is still pending. The building, which was under construction at a cost of Rs 17.8 million by the National Planning Commission, was not completed on time, and the commission had paid only Rs 9 million. The remaining amount was frozen. The Rs 3.8 million allocated by the Ministry of Health for the completion of the building has also been paid. Now the remaining Rs 5.8 million has come under the responsibility of the municipality.

The contractor is claiming that he could not complete the work due to lack of budget. According to ward chairman Chakra Bahadur Khatri, no section of the building has been completed. The Nepal Public Welfare Association (SWAN) has been operating the service so far with the building it built with its own investment.

Keeping the laboratory equipment provided by the organization and even the computer in the same room has caused problems in service delivery. In addition, the health post has not been able to get the minimum service standard score as it has not been able to provide treatment services to patients with diseases such as dengue and elephantiasis in separate rooms. Currently, this health post has scored 92 points. Health workers say that if more rooms are added, it can become the first in the district by scoring 96 to 98 points.

Baglung Municipality Deputy Chief Raju Khadka said that efforts to bring in a contractor and complete the work were not possible. ‘When the festival season comes, there is a tendency to send some workers and seek payment,’ said Khadka, ‘there are many problems in getting the contractor to work.’ Despite the difficulties, 4,300 patients received services at this health institution last year, and around 100 dengue patients have to be treated every year.’

Ward Chairman Khatri said that although the municipality proposed to increase service delivery by appointing a medical officer, the work was stopped due to the lack of a building. He also told about the plan to run a health insurance program with the help of the ward after the building is built.