After Udayapur District Hospital discontinued maternity services four months ago, pregnant women visiting the hospital are being referred to hospitals outside the district. 

A hospital staff said most of the delivery cases are referred to hospitals in Dharan or Biratnagar. 

Bishal Kumar Dev, acting medical superintendent of the District Hospital, said maternity services had to be discontinued after the doctors specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology left after their contract expired. 

Currently, there are only three doctors working at the hospital, he added. 

Duniyalal Yadav, information officer at the District Health Office, said the District Hospital has positions for 13 doctors but the Ministry of Health has not taken any steps to fill the vacancies despite repeated requests.