There has been an acute shortage of medicine in the district hospital Humla for three months. The only district hospital in Humla with 15 nurses, is struggling due to a shortage of medicines since January 2023. The hospital is functioning with assistance from the rural municipality and non-governmental organizations.
A 26-year-old man from Simkot Rural Municipality-1 was admitted to the hospital, on 25 March 2023, after consuming poison. According to his relatives, he had to be transferred to Dandafyan Health Post, Simkot Municipality-7, as the district hospital couldn’t treat him due to a lack of medicine.
Similarly, Sanjeev Rawal, 8, from Kharpunath Rural Municipality-4 suffered a fractured hand bone. Prajit Rokaya, the patient’s guardian, complained that the hospital asked him for basic medicines required for treatment from the medical stores.
Acting Head of District Hospital Humla, Sarita Bohra confirms that there has been a shortage of medicines in the district hospital for three months. According to Bohra, the shortage resulted due to the transfer of budget authority for medicine to the provincial parliament. Previously, when the budget was allocated and provided by the central government, the hospital didn’t face such shortages. Bohra said that hospital management submitted a demand form to the provincial government, but the concerned authorities are still unresponsive.
Manikrishna Jaisi, the storekeeper of District Hospital Humla, said that the medicines purchased from the budget of 1 million only last for two months. District Hospital Humla has no budget. Even though 70 to 85 patients come for treatment daily, there is a shortage of basic medicines. The shortage affects services at the emergency ward, OPD, lab, pharmacy, and X-ray lab.