MUGU, Jan 6: Locals of Mugu were elated when an MDGP expert was hired by the District Hospital a year ago. Unfortunately, their happiness could not last for long as the MDGP expert Dr Jitendra Kandel left the hospital on November 13, 2017. With this, the hospital has returned back to its early state.

On January 30 last year, a youth from eastern part of the district suffering from appendicitis was admitted to the District Hospital. But the doctors referred him to another hospital due to lack of equipment and expertise at the District Hospital. The patient was taken to Talcha Airport the same day but was stranded there as flights could not take off that day due to bad weather. As a result, the patient succumbed to his illness at the airport.

This incident caught the attention of Dr Kandel after it was highlighted by different media. This was the actual reason why he decided to join the District Hospital. Upon joining the hospital, Dr Kandel started providing services related to maternity health as well as operation of hernia and appendicitis among others. These treatments and services were not available at the hospital before his arrival. 
However, Dr Kandel had time and again complained about receiving pressure from political parties and threats from his own colleagues. This was one of the major reasons for him to leave the hospital. Since then, service of hospital has been badly affected. 

As informed by Bali Bahadur Budha, information officer at the District Health Office, more than 35 pregnant women and more than a dozen people suffering from other illness have been referred elsewhere after the transfer of De Kandel. According to Budha, patients have been suffering in lack of treatment at present. Some of them even had to lose their lives for not receiving timely treatment.
 Keshav Jung Shahi, chairperson of the Hospital Development Committee (HDC) had assured to bring dozens of doctors like Dr Kandel but has not been able to bring even a single doctor even after two months.

 
• patients
 
• lack of treatment
 
• mugu