The Tripureshwor-Thapathali area in Kathmandu has been growing as a surgical goods hub. There are more than 500 shops selling surgical equipment along the 1.5 km stretch on the banks of the Bagmati River. Their monthly turnover amounts to Rs2-4 million, traders said. The surgical shops offer various instruments needed in hospitals, polyclinics and laboratories. The stores at Tripureshwor-Thapathali provide jobs to more than 2,000 people.

The enterprises here import surgical equipment mainly from India and China and other third countries. Most of them import their supplies through their own contact. The outlets here supply surgical equipment across the country through sub-distributors.

Sudeep International, Bhandari Surgical House and Om Surgical Concern are among the enterprises offering a complete range of surgical products in the area.

Sudeep International opened 20 years ago when there were only around a dozen shops dealing in surgical equipment in the area, said Indira Hamal, sales manager. The enterprise supplies health equipment for laboratory tests. The laboratory equipment here have prices ranging from Rs150 to Rs2.2 million. The enterprise provides equipment needed for science laboratories too. Most of the customers here are hospitals and polyclinics. The company is the country distributor for Human Diagnostic Worldwide, Germany that manufactures goods for laboratory tests. Sudeep International has 28 employees and maintains a branch office at Bharatpur.

Likewise, Bhandari Surgical House has been around since 2001 and offers various surgical equipment needed by hospitals. The company supplies products to various government and private hospitals. The enterprise has more than 30 employees. The surgical house stocks healthcare products including scientific instruments, laboratory chemicals and reagents, medical equipment and home health appliances. It imports surgical equipment directly from around the globe.

Om Surgical Concern has been selling diagnostic and surgical products since 2001. The company ships surgical equipment to all parts of the country. The shop imports surgical equipment from the US, Germany, Italy, India and China. It has 50 employees.

With so many enterprises offering the same types of products in the Tripureshwor-Thapathali area, competition among them is understandably stiff.