A month ago, 33-year-old Kale Sejuwal from ward 4 of Chhayanath Rara Municipality fell off a cliff while on his way home from Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of Mugu. He was badly injured and had broken his hip bone.

After the accident, he was taken to the Mugu District Hospital where he spent four days without any improvement in his condition.

“I had gone to buy rice in Gamgadhi and had an accident on my way back home. I was in severe pain the whole time I was at the District Hospital,” said Sejuwal. “I didn’t have enough money to go for treatment at big hospitals in the cities. Then my friends and acquaintances suggested I go to the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Teaching Hospital in Jumla saying the hospital has good orthopaedic doctors.”

Sejuwal borrowed money from his relatives and went to Jumla. “I was pleasantly surprised by the treatment and services afforded to patients at the hospital. The moment I was admitted to the hospital, I knew I was in good hands,” he said.

A few years ago, patients would not have had the same experience as Sejuwal’s at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences. The hospital would refer serious cases to Surkhet, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu hospitals. The locals of Jumla, Mugu and other neighbouring districts had no option, but to seek treatment at better-equipped hospitals in cities, spending a lot of money. Those from poor financial backgrounds would suffer from a lack of timely medical interventions in serious cases.

The hospital was manned by a health assistant and an Auxiliary Health Worker and they would mostly refer visiting patients to other hospitals citing lack of specialist doctors.

Government hospitals and health facilities in remote areas of the country suffer from a lack of qualified medical professionals and doctors. Jumla is no exception. Doctors who were assigned or deputed to the hospital in Jumla took their assignments as punishment.

Although orthopaedic services were made available at the hospital in the fiscal year 2011-12, it is only recently that the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences has been earning appreciation from service seekers for its orthopaedic services.

The government has approved four positions of orthopaedic doctors for the hospital and all are currently filled, according to Tufan Singh Kathayat, head of the orthopaedic and neurology department at the hospital. He says the orthopaedic team has been putting extra effort to cater to the patients in remote hill districts. “The hospital is becoming the first choice for patients suffering from bone injuries. They no longer have to travel to other places to receive treatment,” he said.

On January 29, a 4-year-old boy from Ganeshkoti of Mahawai Rural Municipality Ward No 6, in Kalikot broke his left hand while playing. His mother took him to the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla the next day.

According to the boy’s mother Sulochana Shahi, she could not get her son treated on the day of the accident itself because there were no good hospitals nearby.

"We went to Jumla to the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences because I had heard that their orthopaedic department has good doctors and that the services at the hospital have improved,” said Shahi.

After his treatment at the hospital, Shahi’s son recovered in less than two weeks and was back in the fields playing with his friends, she says. “I could not believe that the hospital which earlier relied on staff nurses, health assistants and health workers now has specialist doctors. I am very happy with the services provided by the hospital.”

Last Saturday, 63-year-old Durga Devi Shahi of Majhgaun, Jagdulla Rural Municipality-6, in Dolpa injured her spinal cord while doing house chores. She felt huge pain and was unable to move. Her son, Dhan Singh Bohara, took her to the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences by renting a vehicle.

“The doctor started her treatment as soon as we reached the hospital. She is currently recovering and the doctor has assured us that she will be able to move around in three months,” said Bohara.

Bohara paid the vehicle Rs22,000 for a round trip. “The cost of transportation is still very high. It takes a day to reach Gamgadhi from Majhgaun. But despite the expenses incurred, I am glad my mother received the right treatment.”

According to the data of the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, more than 30 orthopaedic patients are admitted daily at the hospital. Most of the patients are from Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Kalikot and Dolpa.

Kathayat from the hospital agrees that most patients coming from other districts still have to spend a lot on transportation. “If the authorities made free transport arrangements for patients, then no one would be deprived of good orthopaedic treatment.”

According to Kathayat, in a bid to assuage the financial burden on patients, the doctors from Karnali Academy visit district hospitals in the region on the first and last Fridays every month.

The hospital’s director, orthopaedic specialist Dr Pujan Rokaya says, almost 75 percent of those visiting the hospital are OPD patients. “Karnali Academy of Health Sciences is becoming the first choice for patients suffering from bone injuries,” he said. “However, patients are still facing a financial burden because they have to spend more money on transportation than on hospital treatment.” He also suggested that the government or local authorities make arrangements for free transport for patients.”

Kale Sejuwal’s wife, Hansa Sejuwal, couldn’t be happier with the treatment her husband received at the hospital for a dislocated hip bone a month ago.

“My husband spent two months at the hospital. After the accident, I had lost hope of ever seeing him walk on his two feet again. But now my husband is already walking again, thanks to the good treatment provided by the doctors. He still has some minor difficulties, but the doctors have assured us that his condition will improve with medicine, treatment and enough rest,” said Hansa.