Health workers and the management committee of Rolpa District Hospital have asked the provincial and federal governments to enhance the hospital’s institutional capacity.

The hospital management committee has requested the governments to upgrade the health facilities at the hospital. A delegation team led by Raj Bahadur Budhamagar, chief of the District Coordination Committee, is currently in Kathmandu to request the authorities concerned to address their demands.

The team reached the Ministry of Health and Population and urged officials to upgrade the 15-bed hospital to a 50-bed health institution.

“We have also put forward a demand to deploy specialist doctors in Rolpa,” said Dr Sushal Acharya, chief at the district hospital.

The hospital has been operating out of a building that was left incomplete while being constructed some four decades ago. This has severely affected health services at the hospital due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, said Acharya.

The hospital currently does not have enough workforce or the necessary equipment to provide quality services.

Despite the shortcomings, the health institution is still known to be doing exemplary works.

“Rolpa residents are receiving quality health services in the hospital. We don’t have to go out of the district to treat minor diseases,” said Jag Bahadur Oli of Liwang.

“The hospital has been providing good health services despite a shortage of staff and resources. We will help the hospital in its bid to provide better services,” said Dr Binod Giri, the health directorate of Province 5.

Giri, who had once served in the hospital as its chief, recently monitored the hospital. He pledged that the provincial government will provide the required manpower and equipment to the hospital.

“We will work towards upgrading the hospital,” he said.

The hospital is currently operating emergency services, X-ray service and laboratory services, and runs a pharmacy and a safe abortion programme.

“We are committed to providing as many health services as possible in the hospital,” said Dr Dhanmaya Ghartimagar.

Currently, there are four doctors— two appointed on a contract basis, four auxiliary health workers, two staff nurses, a pharmacist and two lab technicians. According to the hospital administration, around 100 patients visit the health facility daily.