Limsa Primary Centre in Barekot has been without specialist doctors for the past five months. Since the two doctors deployed at the health centre have not been present for the past five months, the beneficiaries are facing problems. The two doctors: – Dr. Sudip Kiran Basnet, has gone on study leave and Dr. Navin Sahni, who was on contract service, has been transferred.
According to Bir Raj Singh, Chief of Rural Health Branch, the meeting of the rural executive committee held on December 6 has decided to cut off all the services provided to the doctor after Dr. Sudip Kiran Basnet did not return.
Singh says there are five vacancies in various health institutions in Barekot including medical officers and assistant health workers. According to Singh, in case for the need to post-mortem, the body has to be taken to the primary health center in Nalgad Municipality, which is about seven hours away, as there is no facility for postmortem in the village.
The locals of Sakla, Rokayagaun, Nayakwada and Ramidanda have complained that there are many problems in the health center due to lack of doctors. According to the rural municipality, around 120 to 150 people come to the primary health centre daily for treatment.
According to the health policy of the Government of Nepal, the listed health institutions should have a medical officer, pharmacy, X-ray service, ECG service, etc., but none of these services are available in Limsa.
Govinda Bahadur Singh, acting executive officer of the rural municipality, said that he has requested the Karnali Province Ministry of Social Development for the management of the doctor but no reply was received.