By Kedar Magar, Khotang, Aug 1: If there is any health emergency for Khotang folks, they are required to manage at least 200 thousand rupees promptly to reach a hospital on time.    

The people here have no way except to charter a helicopter to take the patient to a hospital either in Kathmandu or other cities in the country for better treatment. It means the Khotang people should have at least Rs 200 thousand in their pockets to meet the health emergency.    

Mayor at Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Deep Narayan Rijal, said they were demanding the government to manage free air ambulances for the district people.    

The economic burden during the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation. It is charged at least 350 thousand rupees if a helicopter has to be chartered to carry the infected ones.    

On Saturday, a COVID-19 infected person of Temma of Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality-7 was taken to Kathmandu via a chartered flight.

The patient is now being treated at Alka Hospital, according to the family source. Prior to this, a 44-year-old woman from Buipa of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality-14 was airlifted to Kathmandu for the treatment of COVID-19 in July 4.    

The district consists of ten local levels and the situation is the same throughout the district. The use of an ambulance or a motor takes a quite long time to reach the patient to the destination and therefore the people here do not want to take a risk during an emergency.

Landslides that occurred at different places for few days has made the transportation within the district challenging- causing hurdles to ferry the sick people to local health facilities as well.    

The record showed that the district witnessed the nine chartered flights carrying COVID-19 infected since May 19. Chief District Officer Mitra Lal Sharma said the then Prime Minister was requested to manage the free air ambulance for Khotang on May 30.