MYAGDI, Jan 31: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with ventilators that was established at Beni Hospital in Myagdi has been lying dysfunctional due to the lack of competent human resources.
The five-bed ICU ward with two ventilators, established with the financial assistance of Gandaki province government in 2076 BS, has been lying unused. In order to help provide treatment to the patients with critical conditions, the provincial government had aided Rs 12.5 million to set up the ICU.
With no use of such equipment, the patients are now compelled to go to Pokhara and Kathmandu for expensive treatment. “It is disheartening to know that the ICU ward has remained dysfunctional and the poor patients are forced to spend a hefty amount to receive treatment outside the district,” said Khem Thapa, a local.
Myagdi’s copper mines lying unused, buried in forest
“It is sad that those requiring ICU beds in an emergency are to be airlifted to hospital outside via chartered helicopters,” he said, adding, “Many patients who could not afford the flight services are losing their lives on the way to hospitals.”
The hospital administration said the operation of ICU has been stalled due to the lack of competent human resources at the hospital. The hospital’s head doctor Jitendra Kandel said it requires at least four medical officers, 10 staff nurses, two consultants and four assistants to operate the ICU ward.
“In the 50-bed hospital, the existing human resource comprising seven doctors and 24 staff nurses is facing trouble in providing regular services,” Dr Kandel said. “If we need to operate the ICU ward, other services, including emergency and OPD wards have to be shut,” he further shared.
(RSS)
