The goal of expanding the Khotang District Hospital by 50 beds has not been met due to the inability to construct the building on time.
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Due to the ineffectiveness of health services in Khotang, local residents are forced to travel to other districts for treatment.
The target of expanding the District Hospital Khotang by 50 beds has not been met due to the delay in the construction of the building on time. Although the 50-bed hospital was inaugurated on Ashad 22, the service has still to be provided from the old 15-bed structure due to the delay in the construction of the building, said Acting Chief Dr. Rupesh Sangraula. According to him, the provincial government has provided a budget of Rs 40 million for service expansion, Rs 7.7 million for the ICU, Rs 2 million for the blood bank, and Rs 2 million for the hearse. However, the process of managing other materials has not been able to be accelerated due to the non-construction of the building. Free medicines have been provided to the hospital, while e-bidding has already been done.
Shyamsundar-Ramsagar-Nepal Phulbari JV took over the responsibility of constructing the building within 30 months with a budget of Rs 229 million 47 thousand from the federal government in Ashad 2078. However, due to the non-construction, the hospital has to be provided with services from a tent, says Dr. Sangraula. ‘It is time to freeze the budget, let alone expand the service,’ he said.
Hospital Management Committee Chairman and District Coordination Committee Chief San Bahadur Rai says that despite repeated requests for delay in construction, the work has not progressed. Meanwhile, in a discussion held on Mangsir 3 at the initiative of the Chief District Officer, the construction entrepreneurs have expressed their commitment to complete the work within the coming Magh.
According to Bhupendra Rai, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Health of the provincial government, it has been agreed to submit the work schedule within the first week of Mangsir, review the progress again on Poush 4, and initiate legal proceedings if the work is not satisfactory. There are currently 26 health workers, including 8 doctors, working at the district hospital. Chief Rai said that due to the poor treatment service, sometimes patients have to charter helicopters for treatment outside.
The Chisapani Primary Health Center in Jantedhunga Rural Municipality is operating a pharmacy along with health insurance treatment. Vice President Khem Bahadur Khadka said that the hassle of taking patients to the district headquarters has been eliminated as 20-25 patients come here daily and the facility for postmortem has been provided.
The 5-bed primary health center in Aiselukhark Rural Municipality has lab, X-ray, video X-ray, 24-hour emergency and maternity services. Patients from neighboring municipalities also come here as they also have facilities for administering rabies vaccine. Health Branch Chief Sachin Shrestha says that services have improved recently.
The municipal hospital in Chapdanda of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality has 5 beds with lab, X-ray, video X-ray facilities. Twelve health workers have been mobilized from the city's own resources. Kamal Giri, the city spokesperson, said that the availability of free ambulances, including rabies vaccine and maternity services, has made things easier for patients.
Indrenipokhari Basic Hospital in Khotehang Rural Municipality has 5 beds with X-ray, video X-ray, and lab facilities. Due to the shortage of posts, most of the employees have been hired on contract. Ward Chairman Basanta Rai said that the facilities of the postmart have made things much easier for the locals. In Yamkha-based Basic Hospital in Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality, 5 beds with lab and video X-ray facilities are available.
