Basic hospital begins operation in Dharche

By Gun Bahadur Roka,Sulikot, Dec.1: A 5-bed basic hospital has started operations in Khorlabesi, Dharche Rural Municipality-7 in northern Gorkha. This hospital aims to eliminate the compulsion of travelling to Gorkha Bazaar or Arughat for even minor illnesses.

The hospital was constructed under the government’s plan to establish basic hospitals in all municipalities nationwide. 

According to Chief Administrative Officer Kajiman Sunar, the hospital was built with 40 per cent funding from Dharche Rural Municipality and 60 per cent from the Swiss organisation Helvetas. The total cost of construction was Rs. 22.8 million.

An agreement for the hospital's construction was signed on September 29, 2019, between Dharche Rural Municipality and Chhaya Nepal. While the building was completed last year, the delay in procuring and installing necessary medical equipment postponed the hospital’s operation. Dharche Rural Municipality confirmed that all required equipment was now in place.

The hospital, which began services on Wednesday, currently provides 24-hour emergency care, general medical services, outpatient services, laboratory services, maternity care, dental services, vaccination, ECG and X-ray services (including video X-ray) and pharmacy services.

The hospital staff includes two medical officers, three staff nurses, three health assistants, one radiographer, one pharmacy assistant, one lab technician, one dental hygienist and four office assistants, according to Laxman Gurung, the Chairperson of Dharche Rural Municipality.

Local youth Raj Gurung expressed his satisfaction with the new hospital, saying that it has significantly eased access to healthcare for residents of Dharche and Chumnubri Rural Municipalities. 

Before the hospital's completion, residents relied on health posts and community health units. Now, the community is delighted to have a 5-bed hospital providing essential medical services.

Chairperson Gurung stressed that residents of Dharche and Chumnubri often faced challenges during medical emergencies, including the high cost of hiring helicopters, which were not always available on time. 

With the operation of the basic hospital and the availability of necessary medical equipment, he expressed confidence that most treatments would now be possible locally.

The establishment of this hospital marks the end of a long-standing struggle for timely and affordable healthcare in northern Gorkha, bringing hope and convenience to the locals.