By Binu Shrestha
Kathmandu, Nov 14: Kabita Thapa, resident of Gundu, Suryabinayak Municipality–7, Bhaktapur is a regular visitor to the Bhaktapur Hospital. She visits the hospital once a month to receive a shot of Benzathine penicillin for her rheumatic heart disease and as a result, has been able to closely observe its condition over the last few years.
Up until a few months ago, the hospital evoked pity and frustration. It had acquired the name “the hospital of referrals” because, owing to lack of facilities, it used to refer patients to other better-equipped healthcare centres. But that is no longer the case.

Thapa says that the hospital has improved a great deal now. “We, the patients, can actually see and feel the change. Things have truly improved here,” she said.
Her observations are also supported by data from the provincial government. The hospital scored 83 per cent on Bagmati Province’s assessment of its minimum service standard this year; a drastic improvement from the 38 per cent it scored a few years ago. And this improvement is credited to the appointment of Dr. Sumitra Gautam as the hospital’s chief medical superintendent.
In her more than 20 years of working at the hospital, Nursing Officer Roshani Shrestha told The Rising Nepal that she only now feels professionally satisfied. “Before, we had no facilities and were forced to refer patients for even simple cases. But now, we are able to give patients the care and treatment they need which, in turn, motivates us to work too,” she said.

The hospital has greatly enhanced its service delivery, Shrestha said, which has turned it into one of the busiest health institutions of the district. Kalpana Kayastha, who has been working as a health assistant in the emergency ward of Bhaktapur Hospital for the last 18 years recounted, “Hardly 20 people visited the hospital and most of them needed to be referred to other hospitals. But now, the patient flow has increased encouragingly.”As per the data provided by the hospital, around 1,000 people visit the health centre every day.
At 118 years old, Bhaktapur Hospital is the second oldest hospital of the country after Bir Hospital. However, lacking equipment and infrastructure, it was in a sorry state unable to deliver quality service to the people who came to it.

However, the hospital staff say that Gautam turned it around. They credit her with upgrading Bhaktapur Hospital’s infrastructure and standard.
Gautam for her part though said that the improvements were the result of collective effort, “It would not have been possible if not for the support provided by nurses, doctors and the management team,” she said, adding that it would take a further 15 to 16 months to fully improve the physical infrastructure and service delivery and give the hospital a new look.
The hospital is currently constructing a three-storey building with basement. Work on the building should have begun five years ago but only began last February. It is also planning to increase its capacity to 200 beds from its current 150.

It has also added 26 new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, of which, 16 are for children. The beds will be brought into operation after the necessary manpower is arranged.
The hospital presently provides all health services except neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery.