Karnali Province
Salyan hospital halts surgical services in the absence of skilled manpower
The halt in surgical services has forced people in the district to go to Nepalgunj, Surkhet or other places for treatment.Biplab Maharjan
Surgical and delivery services have come to a halt in the district hospital of Salyan due to a shortage of skilled human resources.
The hospital administration said it stopped providing surgical services after MD general practice doctors—Pradeep Sharma and Anjila Shrestha—got transferred from the hospital on Thursday.
The residents of Salyan and neighbouring Rukum (both east and west) and Rolpa districts have been hugely affected due to the halt in surgical services.
“The services cannot be resumed until the authorities concerned hire new surgeons at the hospital,” said Asim Prajapati, a doctor at the district hospital.
Nabin Roka Magar, a resident of Bangadkupinde Municipality-12, was on his way to the district hospital on Saturday to treat his wife’s fractured leg when he was told to go to Nepalgunj instead.
“I called the hospital but the hospital administration suggested that I take her to Nepalgunj, stating that she possibly needs to undergo a surgery and surgical services were not available at the hospital. I have no alternative to take her to Nepalgunj now,” said Roka Magar.
The halt in surgical services at the hospital has forced many people in the district to go to Nepalgunj, Surkhet or other districts for treatment. This has placed huge financial strains on service seekers, local residents say.
The residents of Salyan are often deprived of quality health services at the district hospital due to shortages of doctors and other human resources.
Until a month ago, there were a total of eight doctors in the district hospital of Salyan. Two doctors were transferred from the hospital last month while two others were transferred on Thursday. The hospital now has only four doctors—all with MBBS qualification.
According to Prajapati, the doctor at the hospital, the hospital on Friday referred a seriously ill patient to another health institution, as it could not provide surgical services.
“The district hospital cannot resume surgical services without MDGP doctors and surgeons,” said Prajapati.
Not only surgical services but other health services in the hospital have also been affected due to the lack of specialist doctors.
Dasharath Shrestha, acting chief at the District Health Office, admitted that all services in the hospital have been affected due to the lack of skilled human resources.
“We have informed the concerned authorities about the situation and asked them to hire MDGP and specialist doctors for the hospital. It may take around a month to get the needed human resources,” said Shrestha.
The Salyan District Hospital was established around 35 years ago to provide quality health services to the people of Salyan and neighbouring districts. According to the hospital administration, around 100 to 150 patients visit the 40-bed health institution on a daily basis.