Complex Surgeries Bring Relief to Bajura Residents as District Hospital Expands Specialist Services
Bajura: Residents of Bajura are delighted that complex surgeries are now being performed at the District Hospital, Bajura. The community is pleased as procedures such as surgeries for complicated obstetric cases, emergency appendectomies, and reverse sural artery flaps are being successfully completed locally.
Public trust in the hospital is growing as the 15-bed facility begins providing reliable services at affordable rates alongside routine health check-ups and treatments. Bajura is one of the country’s remote mountainous districts, and residents previously had to travel outside the district for surgeries. Despite limited manpower, medicines, equipment, and resources, the hospital has started providing specialist health services, leading to an increase in the number of patients visiting the facility.
Nripraj Giri, the hospital’s Information Officer, stated that patient numbers have risen since the introduction of effective specialist services. More than 150 patients visit the hospital daily for treatment, arriving from neighboring districts such as Humla and Mugu. Services are currently being provided by specialists in MDGP (General Practice), orthopedics, and neurology.
“The need to travel as far as Dhangadhi or Kathmandu for various services and surgeries due to a lack of specialist doctors has come to an end,” said Information Officer Giri. “Most complex surgeries are now being successfully performed right here.”
In addition to daily OPD and surgical services, the hospital provides round-the-clock emergency health care. He stated that the hospital provides treatment for conditions including pediatric issues, gynecology and obstetrics, dermatology, ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) ailments, and mental health issues, as well as emergency care.
Dr. Harish Bahadur Malla, the Acting Medical Superintendent, noted that the district hospital has consistently provided life-saving and specialized health services despite limited resources.
Local residents have found great relief now that services, including those provided by specialist doctors, are available at the hospital, eliminating the previous necessity of traveling outside the district for routine medical care.
35,000 Patients Served and 351 Referred in One Year
Approximately 35,000 patients received treatment at the district hospital over the course of a year. In the last fiscal year (2082-83), 34,955 individuals underwent health check-ups and treatment, while 351 patients were referred elsewhere for further care.
In the current fiscal year, 6,461 patients have received treatment up to the end of Bhadra. Patients visit the hospital not only from the district’s nine local levels but also from the neighboring districts of Mugu, Kalikot, and Humla.
Additionally, the hospital reported that 139 successful orthopedic surgeries were performed within just the first two months of the current fiscal year.
Hospital Reliant on Contract Staff
The district hospital has a sanctioned staff quota of 18 positions, including one Medical Superintendent (9th level) and one 8th-level doctor. However, the current workforce consists of only nine individuals, including the Acting Medical Superintendent (8th level).
The hospital reported that the remaining staff—including medical officers—comprises 89 employees working on a contract basis.
“The infrastructure is adequate, but while it should be a 50-bed hospital, it currently has only 15 beds, resulting in a shortage of staff,” he said. “We have added some services, but the lack of personnel is hindering service delivery.”
Dr. Malla stated that if the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government immediately upgraded the district hospital to a 50-bed facility, it would bring significant relief to residents of remote areas.
He noted that due to insufficient manpower and sanctioned positions relative to the hospital’s physical infrastructure and service expansion, they are forced to manage services using only the resources currently available.
MDGP Services to Start in Two Months
Hospital Chief Dr. Malla stated that service delivery has improved recently after the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government deployed MDGP doctor Rahul Shrestha on a scholarship-based contract.
According to the hospital administration, the regular presence of an orthopedic surgeon has facilitated the provision of treatments and surgeries for orthopedic and nerve-related conditions.
Medicine Procurement Process Stalled Due to Lack of Provincial Budget
Hospital Chief Dr. Harish Bahadur Malla informed that the failure to receive the budget for the current fiscal year from the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has hindered the medicine procurement process, creating a situation where the district hospital is facing a shortage of free medicines.
“There is sufficient medicine in the pharmacy,” he said, “but while we are supposed to provide 98 types of free medicines, we currently provide only about 50 types; the lack of a procurement budget is causing difficulties.”
Although the patient load at the hospital is increasing, challenges persist in managing medicines, equipment, and manpower. Stocks of free medicines are also dwindling, directly affecting residents in remote areas.
While there have been gradual improvements in physical infrastructure, specialist services, and surgical facilities, the district hospital continues to face significant challenges regarding adequate staffing, the regular supply of medicines, state-of-the-art equipment, and budget management.
It appears possible to alleviate the burden on residents of remote areas who are currently compelled to travel outside the district—spending large sums of money—to access healthcare services ranging from routine treatments to complex medical procedures.
However, the hospital has faced repeated criticism due to negligence by its administration and management committee; issues such as doctors failing to arrive on time for patient care and patients enduring unnecessary hardships frequently arise.
Local resident Vishnu Karki noted that although the hospital is providing more effective healthcare services than in the past, there is a need to further strengthen areas such as the availability of specialist doctors, state-of-the-art equipment, the regular supply of medicines, and overall management.