At present, around 7 to 10 patients get admitted in the hospital on a daily basis, while a large number of people visit it seeking treatment for common health problems, according to the hospital. However, not even the medicines distributed free of cost by the government are available at the hospital.
“We don't get free medicines at the hospital anymore. The doctors hand us prescriptions and tell us to go to a particular pharmacy,” said Dambar Khadka, a local.
Similarly, Sita Kusari of Bhoor-6 expressed disappointment over not getting medicines at the hospital. “Apart from cetamol, we get no other medicines at the hospital. The doctors direct us to their own pharmacy outside the hospital,” she said.
Although the district hospital buys stock of medicines enough for a year, the contractor in collusion with hospital staff delivers medicines that are about to expire, claimed locals. “The commission system has created shortage of medicines all year round. It as added to the troubles of the poor,” said Rajendra Karki, a local journalist.
Dr Rajendra GC, chief of the district health office, admitted that they are facing acute medicine shortages. “However, we still have some medicines in our stock. We could not use some medicines as they had crossed expiry date,” he added.
Despite his claims that the hospital still has some stocks of medicines remaining, patients complained they have not been able to get medicines.
“The hospital wears a gloomy look in lack of necessary equipments and lack of human resources,” said Keshav Jung Shah, a local leader. “If the government fails to give timely attention to the dreary condition of the hospital, patients will suffer a lot more,” he added.
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