Orthopedic Patients in Seti Provincial Hospital Allegedly Exploited by Doctors

Dhangadhi- Orthopedic patients at Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi are reportedly being exploited by doctors who force them to purchase rods, nails, and plates at inflated prices from specific outside vendors.

Despite these essential items being available in the hospital pharmacy, doctors allegedly direct patients to buy them from vendors connected to the doctors' close relatives, creating a significant financial burden on the patients.

One notable incident involved Dr. Utsav Shrestha, who, after diagnosing a patient with a spinal injury on Ashar 5, recommended immediate surgery but directed the patient to procure the required surgical items from an outside source.

This practice appears to be a part of a larger competition between Dr. Shrestha and another orthopedic specialist, Dr. Gyanendra Joshi, to profit from commissions on these purchases. The rivalry between Dr.

Shrestha and Dr. Joshi has reportedly led to delays in surgeries, forcing patients to wait unnecessarily and, in some cases, to be admitted to the ICU. Patients are coerced into buying items from the doctors' preferred vendors under the implicit threat that their surgeries will not proceed otherwise. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr.

Sher Bahadur Qamar acknowledged the issue, confirming that goods are indeed available at the hospital pharmacy at reasonable prices and that tenders have been issued to ensure the availability of necessary equipment for the upcoming financial year.

Dr. Qamar assured that the hospital's pharmacy would offer cheaper and better-quality products than those sourced from outside. Complaints from patients and their relatives highlight the pervasive issue of financial transactions between orthopedic surgeons and external vendors, often bypassing the hospital's official procurement channels. Dr.

Qamar has received public complaints about these practices and has called for a meeting with the doctors, instructing them to cease such unethical behavior.

Despite the hospital's efforts to curb these practices, it remains evident that orthopedic surgeons at Seti Provincial Hospital are prioritizing personal profit over patient care, forcing vulnerable patients to bear unnecessary financial burdens.