Thousands suffer as services halt at BPKIHS

By Nisha Rai,Dharan, Jan. 17: Early Tuesday morning, hundreds of patients started arriving at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), locally known as Ghopa Camp, for different health-related problems.

While some visited the institute as a new patient, others had come for a follow-up. However, the early travel to the biggest health institution of eastern Nepal was only a loss of time and hope for them.

“The doctor had called me for a follow-up on Magh 2 (January 16). I arrived here as told. I stayed in the line for the OPD ticket with many others from 8 am only to find out that the services were suspended today,” said Balabhadra Magar, a patient from Pathari-Shanishchare Municipality in Morang district.

“I am suffering from mental issues. Every once in a while, the doctor calls me for a follow-up to keep my condition in check. He then changes the medicine or doses as needed. Now, I am not sure how long the services will be suspended in Ghopa Camp, a centre of hope for many poor people like us,” Magar added.

Magar had boarded a bus to Dharan with his wife in the morning. She said, “The lack of treatment adds stress to the mind of a patient. If I take my husband to another hospital, we need to seek treatment and tests from the first step. If a health institute like the BPKIHS gets closed without prior notice, thousands of patients like us are certain to suffer.”

Like the Magar couple, Bikash Mandal, a resident of Siraha district in Madhes Province, had also arrived in Dharan with problems in his stomach. 

“I came to Dharan some time ago for treatment because of qualified doctors and affordable cost. I do not have enough money to seek treatment at a different health centre. I also cannot return home without getting fit. The sudden suspension of the services has left me in dismay,” said Mandal.

According to the institute’s officials, professors and doctors are in protest leading to a suspension of all medical services, except emergency ones. The agitated medical professionals have been demanding timely promotion and appointment of existing and new manpower respectively.

On November 6, 2023, an agreement was reached between Dharan’s Mayor Harka Sampang Rai and local political party representatives to resume the promotion process from December 18 and complete them by December 31, 2023.

As the deadline ended a fortnight ago and no steps have been taken, agitating officials have resumed the protest.

Moreover, Mayor Rai padlocked the office of BPKIHS’ acting Vice-Chancellor Dr. Prahlad Karki on Monday evening as the agitating doctors’ legitimate demands were not met despite assurances.

BPKIHS employees informed that Mayor Rai has warned them to not open the lock.

With professors and doctors on strike, medical students have also started demonstrating by complaining that their academic and practical classes were gravely affected. The students have started a protest from Monday.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet had also assured to solve the problems by visiting the BPKIHS recently. Yet, no effective steps have been visible to date. 

“BPKIHS has been affected for years due to repeated protests from different concerned bodies. Thousands of citizens have been affected.

The federal government has not been seen concerned. Even the locals of Dharan have protested demanding reforms in Ghopa Camp. The hopes of many continues to be dashed,” said Dipak Kumar Budhathoki, an advocate.