It is difficult to get treatment in remote areas as transport and electricity services are disrupted

Dhangadhi: Medical services in the hilly districts of the far west have been affected due to the disruption of transport and electricity services. The rural roads including the main highway connecting Bajura, Bajhang, Doti, and Darchula districts are not functioning properly.

In the districts where roads are blocked, there is a problem in bringing patients to the hospital and referring patients who cannot be treated. Chief of the Health Office, Baitadi, Yogesh Bhatta told Dinesh Khabar that there is a problem in treatment and distribution of vaccines as the rural roads are not running smoothly even though the main highway is running smoothly in Baitadi. "Even though the main highway is running smoothly in Baitadi, the rural roads are still blocked," he said. In Achham district, there is a problem in referring patients due to the lack of ambulances.

Dr. Sonali Baskota, Medical Superintendent of Achham District Hospital, said that there was a problem in getting the patients to the district hospital even though they had to be referred through Surkhet. "There is a problem here because there is no ambulance," she said. The main highway in Doti has been blocked, causing problems in the treatment of patients in the district. Medical Superintendent of Doti District Hospital, Dr. Krishna Joshi, said that they would refer Achham to Bayalpata if treatment was not possible at the district hospital. "We are sending the patients who need to be referred to Bayalpata Hospital," he said. At Bajhang District Hospital, treatment service has been affected due to a power outage along the road.

Medical Superintendent Dr. Sandeep Okheda is worried that the supply of diesel could not be made as the Jaya Prithvi Highway was blocked in some places and the overall treatment service of the hospital would be affected in a few days. "There is a problem in the treatment of patients due to lack of electricity in our hospital," he said. "We are running generators." But there is a fear that it will be very difficult to get treatment in a few days without diesel. '

It is said that there is a shortage of essential medicines in Bajura district as well. The failure to operate the highways and rural roads connecting the hilly districts within a day or two has led to an acute shortage of food and other daily necessities in seven hilly districts.