Baitadi District Hospital ranked the best

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, May 15: Baitadi District Hospital has topped the list of the best primary hospitals across the country as per the Minimum Service Standards (MSS).

Baitadi Hospital, which is situated in Dashrathchand Municipality of the district, secured 95 per cent mark on the MSS, informed the hospital officials by organising a programme on Sunday. There are over 750 topics on the basis of which the MSS are judged.

Making the study report public, MSS Implementation Programme's coordinator Bimal Chanra Pun said, "On the basis of a study based on the MSS, Baitadi Hospital secured the first position. It was followed by Damauli Hospital (92%), Chautara Hospital (89%), Achham Hospital (87%) and Dailekh Hospital (86%)."

Speaking at the programme, Baitadi’s Chief District Officer (CDO) Suresh Panthi urged the hospital to keep the momentum going.

While the District Hospital has a building with a 50-bed capacity and is operating 49-bed, while the hospital has posts of health personnel only for a 15-bed capacity. 

There are posts for five specialised doctors and seven medical officers in the Baitadi Hospital. Doctors speciailising in orthopaedics, vein, ENT, paediatrics, anaesthesia, gynaecology and dentistry are providing services in the hospital.

From April 2022 to April 2023, a total of 29,000 patients received services from the hospital.

"We have been operating 49 beds despite having resources and manpower for only 15 beds. We could still stand atop the list of best primary hospitals in the study performed jointly by the federal and provincial governments," said Dr. Dipesh Shrestha, acting medical superintendent of Baitadi Hospital.

Dr. Shrestha also informed that while the Nepal government provided 70 medicines for free, the hospital provided over 100 medicines for free.

"We could be the best in the country thanks to the hard work of our manpower. We look forward to achieving more," said Parbati Bhatta, chairperson of Baitadi Hospital Management Committee.

Bhatta also lauded the help of the officers of Nepal Police, Nepali Army and Armed Police Force for donating blood in emergencies.

"The local level also looks forward to providing every necessary support to the hospital. The arrival of specialised doctors has stopped the need of visiting Indian hospitals," said Kaushila Chand, Deputy Mayor of Dashrathchand.

Hospital's condition

Baitadi District Hospital has its own oxygen plant established jointly by the federal and provincial governments at a cost of Rs. 8 million. The plant has a capacity to generate 15 cylinders of oxygen daily.

"We have been able to operate two beds with ventilator support after the instalment of the oxygen plant," said Dr. Shrestha.

Dr. Shrestha informed that the hospital has an advanced lab service including that of blood culture.

"We perform different lab tests of at least 150 patients on a daily basis," said Chandra Singh Dobal, in-charge of the lab.

The hospital also has a One-Stop Crisis Management Centre (OCMC). "Until mid-March 2023 of the current fiscal year 2022/23, 181 women victims received treatment and legal and mental support," said Dr. Natheshwor Neupane, focal person for the hospital's OCMC.

Dr. Neupane informed that the hospital provided free lodging and food for women suffering from domestic or other forms of violence.

Likewise, the hospital is also organising free health camps by reaching rural areas with specialised doctors. Patients in severe conditions are then requested to visit the hospital for further treatment.