When she joined the service, there were no radiation or oncology departments in any other hospitals across the country. When the service started at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, the government appointed her as a director. She served there for six years.
But it wasn´t sufficient to get promoted as Bhaktapur is not a remote district in the government´s definition. As per the government regulation, a doctor has to serve in a remote district at least for two years to get promoted. The ministry called her back to Bir Hospital after NAMS started oncology classes.
"I have never refused to serve in any place. The government did not transfer me anywhere," complained Dr Shah, adding, "I have often felt frustrated."
She said that she was ready to serve at any place the government transferred her to.
Dr Shah also said that she is not the one to care much about money. "It is the satisfaction that comes from the service of the poor," she added.
Dr Gopal Raman Sharma, a senior neuro surgeon at Neurology Department of the hospital has a similar story. But unlike to Dr Shah, Sharma is thinking about joining Nepal Medical College (NMC), which has offered him a position of as professor and a lucrative salary. Dr Sharma, however, refuses to accept that he is leaving Bir just for the lucrative salary. "I am not eager to give up the service here. The satisfaction I get from serving the patients here is priceless," he said. Dr Sharma alleged that the MoHP and the hospital administration failed to respond to his greivances.
The Bir Hospital administration admits that Dr Sharma is the backbone of the Neurology Department. Bir Hospital is the only hospital in the country where people can get services even if they do not have money for treatment. The hospital charges Rs 100,000 for a brain tumor surgery which costs 10 times more at private centers.
Similarly, Dr Prakash Ragmi, a senior cardiologist at Cardiology Department of the hospital joined the service as medical officer some 25 years ago and has been serving in the same post since. He said that he has served at least a dozen hospitals in remote areas, which is more than enough to qualify him for a promotion. "If we quit the service, a very needy group that has been getting services will be left in the lurch," he said. "Don´t ask about the level frustration. I do not get single opportunity to get advance training, nor have I been promoted in my 25-year career," he complained.
Dr Regmi, still a medical officer technically, has been serving at Bir as a consultant.
Director of Bir Hospital Dr Buland Thapa admits that Dr Regmi, Dr Sharma and Dr Shah are main assets of the hospital and they have been victimized because of the government´s policy. "Most of my doctors have MD, MS and PhD degrees, but they have been denied promotion since a long time," said Director Thapa, adding, "Due to lack of career prospect, most of them feel frustrated."
He claimed that he has talked with the NAMS officials about their problems but to no avail.
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