According to a statement by a hospital official, patients in Rolpa district are facing difficulties in receiving timely medical treatment due to a shortage of doctors. Despite having 11 specialist doctor positions at Rolpa Hospital, which is a government hospital located in the hilly district of Lumbini province, none of these positions are currently filled. The hospital has a total of 50 beds, and it also includes the role of an 11th level medical superintendent. However, patients seeking treatment at the district hospital are experiencing delays, forcing them to seek medical care outside the district, in places like Dang, Butwal, Nepalgunj, and even Kathmandu, for general medical treatment.
Rolpa Hospital initially began with 15 beds in 2061 and has since expanded to 50 beds as of 2077. On a daily basis, the hospital receives a significant number of patients, ranging from 100 to 250. However, the hospital is primarily staffed by medical officers, and the shortage of doctors has led to the closure of obstetrics and surgery services for complex medical conditions.
Moreover, there is an alarming increase in eye-related diseases across the country, including in Rolpa. Despite the prevalence of eye diseases at the community level, Rolpa Hospital lacks specialist doctors in various fields, including ophthalmology and dentistry, leaving patients to suffer. Local specialist Kushal Pun Magar shared that he had to resort to private medical practitioners for eye treatment and, in some cases, travel to Dang for necessary care.
Lokratna Gyawali emphasized that despite the presence of 11 specialist doctor positions in the district hospital, none of them are currently filled, leading to the healthcare gap in the region. He also highlighted that the hospital’s staffing has not been in line with the number of doctors required to meet the healthcare needs of the population.
In 2077, the government initiated the construction of well-equipped hospitals at 396 local levels out of the total 753 local levels across the country, each to be staffed with one MBBS doctor. Additionally, plans were announced to construct 279 more hospitals in 2078. However, progress on these initiatives has been slow, and many local levels still lack adequate healthcare infrastructure.
Local resident Kushal Pun expressed his concern that although there is a theoretical commitment to providing healthcare access to rural areas, the reality is different. The absence of doctors in the hospital has left patients without access to essential medical treatment.