A tale of medical doctor serving in remote, operates without equipment's

By Prem Raj Simkhada, Kalikot, Apr.4: Dr Bhishma Prasad Pokharel, chief radiologist at the  Health Service Office, Kalikot, expressed distraught that despite repeated requests for equipment from the government, it turned deaf ears.

He said, "I am a radiologist, but there is no video X-ray machine here that gives a clear view. We are forced to perform ultrasounds on pregnant women and other abdominal patients with a video X-ray machine that looks blurry like a cloud."

This is just a representation of doctors serving in remote districts to provide services. 

The physical infrastructure of the Kalikot District Hospital, established four decades ago, is better than before.

The hospital has a new building, well-equipped OPD rooms, and even an operation theater, but there is always a shortage of equipment.

The hospital has not received the required number of staff. On top of that, due to a lack of equipment, doctors are compelled to treat patients and even perform surgeries at their own risk. 

When the X-ray machine does not work, patients have to be sent to private medical facilities, which incur expensive fees.

Otherwise, there is no other option than to refer. 

The service recipients have been facing problems as even after corresponding through letters multiple times, medical equipment for pre-operative examination of patients, including video X-ray, plain X-ray, CT scan machine, and dental X-ray, are not provided.

A total of 568 people were operated on, including 50 pregnant women and 518 others, in the current fiscal year, in dire situations of not having needed equipment. 

Anil Yadav, the hospital's medical coordinator, said that 55 people (21 male and 29 female) have been referred to Surkhet  Health Service Office, Kalikot, because of failing to operate in the hospital due to lack of equipment.

Yadav said that due to a lack of equipment, they were forced to refer them while staking lives.

Dr Darshan Raj Pandey, who works at the Kalikot District Hospital, said that patients suffer during operations due to the lack of equipment.