According to the District Health Office (DHO), Rolpa, problems started after Dr Kiran Acharya, the in-charge of the center, went on leave purportedly for further studies. Dr Suraj Bhattarai, who succeeded Acharya, also left the office after working for a year saying he needs to prepare for internal medical examinations. [break]
Regular absence of doctors at the center has directly medical attention seekers from the village and many other adjoining village development committees (VDC). The center is the only medical facility for the locals of 18 VDCs of the district including Pyuthan district.
Left with no other options, locals have been compelled to travel to other health centers for a long time. "This irresponsible act by the doctors has forced us to travel mostly to Birgunj, Dang and Butwal and this makes medical treatment very expensive," said Kiran Budathoki of Gam VDC-9.
Another local Maniram Budathoki of Sulichaur lamented the indifference shown by DHO toward their plight. "Had the DHO officials taken this issue seriously and informed the higher authorities about our problems, we would not have not suffer. locals didn´t have to go through this travail," said Budathoki. He is also a former vice president of the District Development Committee, Rolpa.
In the past, the health center would see all kinds of cases including those related to gynecology, skin, pregnancies, and problems related to ear, nose and throat. "In a sad incident, a woman suffering from diarrhea had recently died at Libang VDC-5 while she was being rushed to the District Health Centre," said Budathoki. "If doctors are not sent to the center soon then more people in the district could die in the lack of treatment," he added.
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