Jajarkot District Hospital is reeling under human resource crunch. As a result, the general public is hugely affected.

Locals here are left with no option than go to Surkhet and Banket districts for treatment as the district hospital has not been able to cater to them. The 50-bed district hospital, where 46 posts of health workers including nine specialist doctors are vacant, neither has doctors nor nurses.

Dr Chandani Jaisawal, chief of the hospital, said it is difficult to provide even minor treatment due to lack of health workers. “On top of that, physical infrastructure is also not up to the mark,” said Dr Jaisawal, adding that the hospital is in urgent need of specialist doctors.

Health posts in Jajarkot also facing crisis of essential medicines that are provided by the government to the patients for free. Patients have to buy them at private pharmacies. Health workers say the District Health Office has not supplied medicines for the last six months. There are 30 health posts, three primary health centres and one district hospital in Jajarkot.