KATHMANDU, May 21: As high as 14 percent of the total health equipment are left unused in the country, a study has revealed. 

The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises showed that 2,645 health equipments in the country are still not installed in the health institutions.   

Chairperson of the Enterprises Anjali Tiwariwal said that data were collected from 11 hospitals of Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces adding that 1,823 health equipments are dysfunctional. The study carried out from October 2023 to April 2024 surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals.

Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study team, said that 1,174 sets of equipment are unused despite being in proper condition. "Those equipment imported in the time of COVID-19 are left unused for lack of Covid-19 patients," Rijal added. 

Rijal further stated that the CT scan machines of Bir Hospital, APF Hospital and Koshi Hospital have turned worse with severe complaints about the charger board and battery.

Meanwhile, Director of Bir Hospital Dr Santosh Poudel shared his hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and run such equipment.