The doctors had informed her that she needed to undergo a surgery, but since has been kept in limbo. "Doctors prescribe me painkillers, but don´t tell anything about the date of the operation," she said. Her husband Amrit Bahadur said it´s time they returned home as the harvesting season is approaching and the couple´s three little daughters are on their own.[break]
He complained his daughters´ studies have also been affected due to the delay.
This is not an isolated case though.
Laden Sherpa, 22, of Okhaldhunga arrived at the hospital seven months ago. He had severe thigh injuries caused by the beating of the youths in his village. He finally managed to undergo a surgery after waiting for five months. But that didn´t end his problems. The wound developed pus and the doctors have said that he needs to undergo a second surgery. Sherpa is waiting for a date.
But Manarama Sherchan, admitted in the neuro ward of the same hospital, has been fortunate as she only had to wait for three days. She will undergo a surgery on Friday. "I am a district level leader of the Nepali Congress, Rupandehi, and my son who is a doctor also works in this hospital," she said.
Patients have to wait for as long as six months to get surgery services at Bir Hospital.
Director of the hospital Dr Bulanda Thapa acknowledges the fact that patients have to wait endlessly to undergo a surgery. "Patients face problems due to the lack of sufficient operation theaters and staffers," he said.
The hospital has six operation theaters, and plans to add three more.
"Fifty percent of the problem will be solved once the three new operation theaters come into operation," he added. Generally, a unit at the hospital gets to do just one surgery per week.
Maternity Hospital, Thapathali is plagued by similar problems.
"Normal patients have to wait for up to two months," Dr Lata Bajracharya, director of the hospital said, "The problem is caused by a high inflow of patients and the lack of sufficient operation theatres and staffers."Emergency patients, fortunately, get immediate attention at both Maternity and Bir Hospital.
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