Surgery services have been suspended at the District Hospital Salyan for a week. Due to the lack of doctors, the surgery service has been suspended since last Chaikr 28.

After the closure of the surgery service, patients who had access to low-cost facilities nearby are now forced to spend a lot of money to go to Dang, Nepalgunj, and Surkhet. Pregnant women with complex problems often face more problems when they have to travel for two to three hours in vehicles and ambulances.

Surgery services were started at the District Hospital Salyan a decade and a half ago targeting pregnant women with complex problems. After the closure of the surgery service, women who have been referred from basic hospitals, primary health centers, and health posts in various municipalities have been most affected. The residents of the district have been suffering by having to reserve vehicles to come to and from the district hospital from various rural areas of the district.

MDGP Dr. Dr. Arjun Budhamagar, head of the District Health Service Office, Salyan, said that surgery services at the hospital were suspended after Dr. Budhina Shah was ill and another Dr. Ashim Adhikari went to study MD. He said that after the service was affected, he informed the federal and provincial governments and demanded doctors. ‘More than 100 deliveries take place at the District Hospital Salyan every month, out of which 10/12 with complicated problems need to undergo surgery. We want patients who come to the district hospital not to be sent out. Since there are no doctors, we are forced to send them out now,’ he said. He said that problems are constantly seen at the district hospital due to lack of skilled manpower. He said that after receiving news that surgery services at the District Hospital Salyan were closed due to the lack of doctors, a 23-year-old pregnant woman was taken to Surkhet on Thursday. He said that it took a long time to go to Surkhet via Kalimati and the car fare alone cost 10,000.