Patients face hardship at Provincial Hospital in Kalikot

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Sept. 21: Patients visiting the Provincial Hospital in Kalagaun, the largest medical facility in Karnali Province, are reportedly facing increased challenges due to intricate procedures and staff behavior.

Many patients referred from district hospitals visit this institution for medical examinations; however, complicated registration processes and repetitive formalities exacerbate their difficulties.

Deumal Tiruwa of Raskot–8, who attended the hospital with his patient, mentioned that he had to repeatedly obtain tokens and renew his registration, which only worsened his condition. “Even when you register on the first day, a new token is required the following day. Patients admitted to the hospital also need to renew their cards daily. The process is exceedingly complex,” he explained.

Patients covered under insurance schemes encounter additional obstacles. Medical bills are not processed promptly, with staff indicating that office hours have already concluded.

Some patients reported that pharmacy staff refuse to dispense medication when billing requests are made after office hours. Ashok Budha, a patient from Dailekh–28, expressed that visiting the provincial hospital feels increasingly burdensome due to these administrative hurdles.

Budha also criticised the hospital staff’s attitude towards insured patients. “We pay a fixed amount to the state for insurance; however, staff treat us as if we are undeserving of service. Even when bills are issued under insurance, patients sometimes encounter double charges,” he added.

An overflow of patients constitutes another concern for the hospital. Doctors frequently arrive late to the outpatient department (OPD), leaving patients and attendants exhausted, particularly during the summer months.

When doctors eventually arrive, reports indicate that patients are mistreated by staff members stationed outside the OPD ward, as well as by the doctors themselves.

The behavior of staff at billing counters and in other areas also frustrates elderly patients, children, government employees, and journalists who visit hurriedly. Another significant issue is the non-functionality of the CT scan machine. Frequent breakdowns of this equipment, acquired last year, have caused additional suffering.

Although the machines were repaired at a cost of Rs. 1.3 million two weeks ago, they have already been out of service for a week. Patients are thus being referred to Karnali Care or Deuti Nursing Home for scanning procedures.

There is also division among some hospital doctors regarding accountability and transparency in budget management. While some emphasise the importance of reporting issues to the Karnali provincial government, others argue that citizens should investigate how the allocated budgets have been utilised.

A doctor in the emergency department advised patients to remain vigilant and monitor hospital expenditures; however, hospital administration has denied these allegations.