The Province 5 government is preparing a master plan to upgrade Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal. The preliminary master plan envisages the construction of infrastructure that will allow the hospital to provide quick services to the patients.

A 3D design of a 10-storey building with state-of-the-art facilities has been made public. The master plan is estimated to cost Rs 6 billion.

“According to the master plan, a spacious building will be constructed with a rooftop helipad. An elevator will be installed that directly connects the emergency ward with the helipad,” said Ishwor Gautam, vice-chairman of the provincial planning commission. He claimed that the upgraded hospital would provide all specialist services to the patients.

According to Gautam, suggestions and feedbacks regarding the hospital’s master plan have been collected from the stakeholders. “The final version of the master plan will be completed within a couple of weeks by incorporating the stakeholders’ suggestions and feedbacks. Then the detailed project report will be prepared. The commission (provincial planning commission) will carry out all the works of the hospital as it is a pride project of the provincial government,” he added.

The government had established the six-bed hospital in Butwal around 100 years ago. The hospital has been operating out of an old building that was built 60 years ago. As per the master plan, the existing building will be demolished and a new building will be erected in its stead.

The provincial government has prioritised the upgradation of the hospital. However, the plan has not progressed smoothly as the hospital’s property has been encroached upon by private homes and commercial buildings. As per the record available at the District Survey Office, the hospital currently owns about six bighas of land, though the land-ownership certificate issued in 1995 shows that the hospital owns eight bighas. The survey office said the hospital’s land was encroached upon time and again while expanding the highway and roads around it.

The hospital has a total of 97 positions for doctors. However, posts of 15 specialist doctors and 42 medical officers are currently vacant. Social Development Minister Sudarshan Baral said that the government was preparing to fulfil the vacant posts. “We are planning to have volunteer employees so that the hospital won’t be a referral centre. The employees will be appointed on a permanent basis after the formation of the provincial public service commission,” said Baral. He said specialist services would be started in the hospital giving priority to neurology and orthopaedic services.