Parbat hospital faces acute shortage of health workers

By Ganesh Poudel,Parbat, May 18: Parbat Hospital in Kushma, Parbat district, is facing an acute shortage of healthcare workers. 

Despite having medical equipment worth millions of rupees, the hospital is unable to utilise them effectively. 

Forced to refer patients with common diseases to other facilities, the 15-bed hospital has failed to operate its ventilators and intensive care units (ICUs), facilities needed for seriously ill patients. 

Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr. Rukmina Adhikari explains that one specialist doctor, one anesthesiologist, one staff nurse, and one assistant are needed to operate a ventilator. 

“However, the hospital is unable to fill these staffing requirements, despite repeated requests to provincial and federal ministries,” she added. 

This equipment has now been kept in the store room, said Dr. Adhikari. 

Furthermore, the hospital has not been able to install the ventilators it received from the provincial government and various organisations three years ago, she added. 

According to her, medical staff crunch has also impacted the hospital's ability to provide health services in the outpatient department (OPD) as well as emergency department. Patients visiting the hospital are facing difficulties in receiving proper medical attention.

Chairman of the hospital management committee Shankar Girl informed that the hospital has seven ventilators but they all remain unused due to the lack of manpower. 

Giri said 28-30 health workers are required to operate these ventilators effectively. “Currently, the hospital is being managed by only eight doctors, 21 staff nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) along with 11 health assistants.”

Approximately 200 OPD patients and 20 emergency patients visit the hospital on a daily basis.  

Efforts have been made to upgrade the hospital from a 15-bed facility to a 50-bed facility with the support of various agencies, said Giri, adding, “However, we are still awaiting approval for the upgrade.”

Stating that consultant doctors would only work in a hospital with at least 50 beds, he said it was crucial to upgrade the hospital first.

For operating ICUs and ventilators, the hospital has equipment worth Rs. 66.9 million. Of which, worth Rs. 16.9 million was provided by the Gandaki provincial government and the rest by various agencies, said Giri. 

The hospital has already installed oxygen generating plants to operate the ventilators and ICUs, he said, adding, “However, staffing crunch means these resources are unused or underutilised.”