Due to the lack of reliable health services in villages, residents of remote areas are being deprived of even basic medical facilities.
Chhitek Bhote, a 42-year-old pregnant woman from Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-3 in Sankhuwasabha, was taken to Koshi Provincial Hospital in Biratnagar by an army helicopter on October 20 after suffering from excessive bleeding.
Her life was saved because she was taken to the hospital on time. Due to the lack of reliable health services in the village, residents of remote areas are being deprived of even basic medical facilities.
Although the government started the construction of 'One Municipality, One Hospital' in 2076, it has not been implemented in Sankhuwasabha. A district hospital is operating in Khandbari, a municipal hospital in Chainpur, and a primary health center in Silichong rural municipality. However, locals complain that they are not getting any services other than normal from these institutions.
The remote Bhotkhola area is geographically very difficult, making it even more challenging to get timely treatment. Due to lack of transportation, in emergencies, there is a necessity to coordinate the rescue of the local administration, health workers, and rural municipality. Bhote's rescue was also carried out under the President's Women Upliftment Program.
Although the district hospital has 50 beds and five specialist doctors, specialist services are not available at the other nine local levels. For serious patients, they are forced to go to the district headquarters Khandbari, Dharan, Biratnagar or Kathmandu. Bangchhedar Bhote, chairman of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, says, "Without reliable health services, not only will the cost of treatment for residents of remote areas increase, but their lives will also be at risk."
Most of the 10 local levels of Sankhuwasabha do not have easy transportation facilities. In areas without roads, patients often have to suffer while traveling to and from the hospital.
