Despite the government having banned the sale and use of alcohol and tobacco products within 100 metres of medical and academic institutions, the restaurant with a bar is under the same roof of that of the hospital for a year.

While ‘Hotel Prashant Restaurant and Lodge’ occupies the third and fourth floor, the second floor houses Nepal SBI Bank with Pathivara Health Care Hospital on the remaining floors of the building located along the Mechi Highway adjacent to the District Traffic Police Office. Moreover, the hospital is

surrounded by a dozen shops selling various products.

“It is surprising to witness the sale of alcohol and tobacco products in the building that has a health care facility,” said local Ek Raj Bhandari, adding that the situation was the consequence of the weak legal system and negligence of concerned authorities.

The locals claimed that the situation was no different at the District Hospital, and vented ire at the concerned authorities for failing to bring to book those operating their business against the law.

Meanwhile, hospital operator Sumesh Udas claimed that the restaurant and hospital had been operating from the same building as there was no provision in the law which states that the two cannot operate from the same building. “As there are several hospitals running in a similar condition the government cannot just single us out,” Udas said. However, despite his claims that the hospital was established before the restaurant, the surrounding shops were found to have been operating long before the establishment of the hospital.

Expressing confusion over the course of action to be taken, District Public Health Office chief Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi said the legal provision was vague and that they had sought proper interpretation of the issue from the concerned department. Rayamajhi said that they would further discuss on possible actions to be taken once they receive directives from the centre.

Rayamajhi further said that the hospital only had 15 beds as opposed to the mandatory provision of requiring a minimum of 25 beds and that the pharmacy within the

hospital premises was not its own and instead run by an individual. Meanwhile, Assistant Chief District Officer Yagya Acharya said as the issue was related to human health, they had asked the DPHO and small industries around the area to furnish a report on the matter.