Surgical services have been halted in Salyan District Hospital for a week due to the lack of doctors. Patients—especially pregnant women with serious health complications—have a tough time accessing timely health care.

The service disruption began on April 11 after the hospital was left without qualified doctors to perform surgeries. According to the District Health Office, one medical officer, Dr Buddhinath Shah, is undergoing treatment after falling ill while another, Dr Ashim Adhikari, left the district to pursue higher studies.

With services halted, patients who once relied on affordable treatment at the district hospital are now forced to travel to Dang, Nepalgunj or Surkhet for care, spending significantly more on transport and accommodation as well as medical and hospital fees. The situation is particularly difficult for pregnant women with complications, who are forced to endure long journeys of two to three hours by vehicle or ambulance to reach a well-facilitated hospital.

Surgical services were introduced at the Salyan hospital around 15 years ago, mainly to support complicated deliveries. Since then, the facility has served the patients who were referred by basic hospitals, primary health centres and health posts across the district. Now, referrals continue, but patients must be sent to other districts.

“More than 100 deliveries take place at the hospital each month, with at least 10 to 12 needing surgery,” said Dr Arjun Budhamagar, chief of the District Health Office. “We have informed both federal and provincial authorities and requested doctors. We do not want to refer patients, but we have no option now.”

Local people complain that the closure of the surgery service has added both financial and emotional strain. Deepak Rana of ward 12 in Bangad Kupinde Municipality said a 23-year-old pregnant neighbour was rushed to Surkhet on Thursday after learning that surgery was unavailable at Salyan District Hospital.

“The journey via Kalimati took a long time, and transport alone cost Rs10,000,” Rana said. “If the service was available here, the surgery would have been free and travel would cost much less.”

People and their elected representatives say such disruptions have been recurring due to a shortage of skilled staff. Established in 1987 with approval for 15 beds, the hospital now operates over 40 beds but continues to face staffing gaps.