Patients suffering from cancer, kidney and heart diseases, hydrocele, uterus prolapse, alzheimer, and sickle cell anaemia have been receiving free treatment at the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara. Free of cost health care is also being provided to the poor, helpless, physically challenged, elderly, victims of gender violence, and female community health volunteers, according to Susmita Sharma, in charge of the hospital’s Social Service Unit.

“We have been providing free treatment based on the ID cards and recommendation letters issued by the local bodies,” said Sharma.

The patients who need heart valve replacement surgery, which is not available at the hospital, Sharma said are being referred to Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre in Kathmandu.

Medical Superintendent Dr Shree Krishna Shrestha said: “We don’t take bed charge for people who are over 70 years of age. Likewise, those elderly citizens who cannot afford medicines are given medicines for free.”

According to the hospital data, medicines worth Rs 5 million are being distributed to the patients without any charge. The hospital provided free treatment to 9,510 impoverished, 798 physically challenged, 505 elderly, 55 victims of gender violence, and 131 female community health volunteers in the last fiscal year.