The High Dependency Unit (HDU) at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari, has been shut down due to a shortage of medical officers and nursing staff. Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Dilip Kumar Sah confirmed that the lack of healthcare workers has forced the closure of the unit, which was initially introduced during the Covid pandemic.

“We don’t have enough medical staff to run the HDU. The available doctors have left for MD studies, making it impossible to continue services,” said Sah. Patients who relied on the HDU are now facing difficulties due to its sudden closure.

The hospital has long been struggling with a shortage of medical personnel, as many doctors assigned to it have been transferred elsewhere on deputation. The failure to recruit new doctors and bring back those on deputation has further worsened the situation. Additionally, the absence of Medical Superintendent Dr Shriram Tiwari since January 9 has led to further chaos in hospital operations.

For years, Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital has been grappling with a lack of doctors, as those assigned to the hospital have been working elsewhere through ministerial deputation. Patients have been suffering due to the unavailability of specialists. Despite Dr Tiwari’s commitment to recalling deputed doctors, he himself has been absent from the hospital for the past one month.

According to the hospital’s administration, Tiwari left for Kathmandu on January 9, citing work-related matters, and appointed Sah as the acting superintendent before leaving. Tiwari took charge as medical superintendent on September 25, 2024 but he has frequently been away for meetings, reviews, and workshops in Kathmandu and Janakpur.

Records show that he traveled to Kathmandu from September 28 to October 1 for One-Stop Crisis Management Centre (OCMC) meeting in Kathmandu, attended a review meeting in Janakpur from October 17 to 21 and was in Kathmandu again from October 29 to November 4 for another conference. Additionally, he participated in further reviews and programs, frequently leaving the hospital unattended.

Recently, Tiwari has left indefinitely, taking his personal belongings with him, leading to speculation that he may not return. Hospital sources suggest he was under stress following controversies over recruitment advertisements for various hospital positions, which led him to leave for the capital.

In the absence of leadership, Saptari’s Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal has conducted two inspections at the hospital within a week. The inspections revealed that several doctors assigned to the hospital were working in private clinics instead, and sanitation issues were also flagged.

Sah admitted that running the hospital without a permanent superintendent has been extremely difficult. He also mentioned that Tiwari last informed him that he had to take care of his ailing mother before leaving for Kathmandu.

Despite multiple attempts to contact Tiwari over the phone, he has not responded. Meanwhile, specialist doctors continue to leave the hospital on deputation, worsening the crisis. With no sign of Tiwari returning, the hospital remains in disarray, leaving patients struggling to receive medical care.