Dialysis service begins in KAHS

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Sept. 2: Dialysis service for kidney patients has started in the Jumla-based Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS). The service was inaugurated by Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet on Thursday.

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) handed over six dialysis machines to the KAHS.

"The ministry will always prioritise KAHS over other health institutions to provide necessary support. The KAHS has been of great support to Karnali locals for the past 12 years. The government will upgrade it gradually to provide more services," said Minister Basnet.

Minister Basnet also assured support for the blood bank of KAHS.

Lawmakers and health secretaries also applauded the role of KAHS in providing quality health services to the locals of Karnali.

However, Gaurinanda Acharya, chief of the Jumla District Coordination Committee, complained that there was a lack of coordination between the local and higher governments.

"While KAHS' role has been applauded, it feels sorry to say that it has not even been able to operate its own ambulance," said Acharya.

Dr. Mangal Rawal, Vice Chancellor of KAHS, stressed that KAHS was a milestone in the history of the Himalayan region of Karnali. He informed that currently 100 doctors were deployed in KAHS.

"There are great opportunities in the sector of mountain and herbal medicine in Jumla. We are waiting for coordination and support," said Dr. Rawal.

Dr. Rawal also argued that KAHS lacked a proper infrastructure for medical students despite admitting the third batch of MBBS and the fifth batch of MD.

"The only infrastructure we have is a 300-bed-capacity building. Doctors are staying in rented rooms outside KAHS," said Dr. Rawal. 

Locals of Chandannath Municipality have provided 500 ropanis of land for free to KAHS in Ward No. 3 with the hope of constructing a proper medical institution to manufacture doctors from the district. 

However, the locals are saddened as the budget for 2023/24 has not prioritised KAHS.