Cronyism is taking a toll in Dadeldhura Hospital, a major health institution for the people of seven hill districts in Sudurpaschim Province. The understaffed hospital has been hugely affected by the interference of major political parties.

In one latest incident, the federal government appointed Laxman Bahadur Singh, a local leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), as the chairman of the hospital development committee of the hospital on April 30. On the very day when Singh assumed his office, on May 16, the Ministry of Health and Population appointed the Nepali Congress leader Karunakar Ojha for the same post. Singh immediately filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court against Ojha’s appointment. On May 23, the apex court issued a stay order not to implement the ministry’s appointment of Ojha as the hospital management committee’s chairman.

“The hospital is in a chaotic situation,” said Ramesh Joshi, a civil society leader in Dadeldhura. “Health services are affected due to the political disputes. The hospital has been the battleground for political parties lately, affecting a huge number of people.” Joshi added the political parties are hell-bent to appoint their leaders and cadres in the hospital rather than resolving the prevalent problems of the once-busy health institution.

Despite having a state-of-the-art laboratory and equipment, Dadeldhura Hospital is critically understaffed. Of late, the hospital has been a ‘referral centre’ as it is compelled to refer patients to Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi or other places. “The patients are deprived of treatment and the political parties are indifferent to solve the problems,” Joshi said.

Dadeldhura is the home district of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the Congress president and five-time prime minister. The Congress local leaders and cadres were enraged as the Maoist Centre leader was appointed as the chairman of the hospital development committee. It is apparent that Ojha was appointed due to Deuba’s pressure.

Following the court’s order, Singh returned to his work. He, however, complained that he could not work due to the political interference and non-cooperation of the stakeholders. On Thursday, Singh announced his resignation stating that he did not want to make the hospital a battleground of two political parties.

Dadeldhura Hospital, established by an American doctor around 60 years ago and named Team Hospital, was envisioned as a facility providing health services to the seven hills districts of Sudurpaschim Province. But the hospital functions mostly as a centre referring patients to other facilities now.

The Team Hospital, according to the local people, provided quality services to thousands of people in the region until it was handed over to the Nepal government by the American mission 12 years ago. The quality of service started declining when the hospital was turned into a sub-regional facility by merging it with the district hospital in 2010.

Five years ago, the federal government decided to turn Dadeldhura Hospital into a ‘state-of-the-art’ health institution. It granted permission to upgrade the hospital to a 500-bed capacity and approved the posts of 38 doctors including specialist doctors. There are currently seven doctors. And out of the approved 500 beds, only 100 are currently in operation.

“We don’t have a good working environment in the hospital due to political interference,” said a health officer at Dadeldhura Hospital requesting anonymity. “Various equipment and tools costing millions of rupees are left unused. The hospital has no alternative to refer patients to other well facilitated hospitals in recent times.”

The officer added, “The hospital employees are divided into different groups according to their political leaning. The daily administrative works and health services in the hospital are hugely affected due to the political interference.”