After two doctors of the X-Ray Department resigned from Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar, the administration of the hospital has implemented a quota system for their services. However, the beneficiaries are not happy with it and are protesting against the quota system. The quota system for x-ray service has started on August 2, 2021, and the hospital provides the service to only 20 patients in a day. Therefore those patients in need of the service had started protesting against the administration in the premises of the hospital.
Dr. Chuman Lal Das, Medical Superintendent of Koshi Hospital told INSEC that Dr. Pushkar Dev and Dr. Sitesh Koirala were hired on a contract basis and both of them had resigned on August 2 due to their personal reasons. He further added that no one has applied even though the hospital administration has published a vacancy for the appointment. He said that he had informed the Ministry of Health and Population on August 2 to provide doctors.
Mohammad Hussain, a beneficiary of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-5, complained that he could not get the service of video X-rays even after paying for it on August 2. He accused the government of trying to deprive the patients of their right to get health. On August 2, the patients queuing for services had protested against the hospital administration demanding the immediate removal of the quota system and health check-up of the patients who had paid the bills.
The relatives of the patients said that there is only one insurance counter in the hospital and the administration has not shown any interest in expanding the service. Hundreds of patients queuing for services shouted slogans against the hospital administration on August 2 and security personnel were deployed to control the situation. After the resignation of three radiologists working in the hospital, there is a shortage of radiologists in the lab of Koshi Hospital. At present, there is only one radiologist in the hospital.
The hospital had implemented a daily quota of 20 people after the hospital was overcrowded from July 31. The patients have been protesting since August 2 demanding abolition of the quota system and bringing more doctors to the hospital.