Eye treatment services at the District Hospital in Jajarkot have remained suspended for the past six months, depriving patients with eye-related problems of essential treatment. Since the service was discontinued, patients visiting the hospital have either had to return without receiving treatment or travel outside the district for care.
Although the District Hospital, located in Thaple of Bheri Municipality–3, was upgraded from a 15-bed to a 50-bed facility, specialist services have not been able to operate due to a shortage of required human resources. The eye treatment service, which had been operated for some time with support from the provincial government, was completely discontinued after the eye care assistant position became vacant.
Bir Bahadur Badi said that since the eye treatment service was suspended at the hospital, patients travelling from villages for treatment have been forced to return disappointed. According to him, eye examination services had been operating regularly until a few months ago. Following the suspension, patients have been compelled to seek treatment at hospitals in Nepalgunj, Surkhet, and other districts at considerable expense.
According to Krishna Bahadur Khatri, the government has not approved a permanent position for eye treatment services. The service was discontinued after Susmita Kandel, who had been appointed as a contract eye care assistant last year, left her position in the Nepali month of Poush.
“At present, patients with minor eye problems are provided with necessary medication, while those with serious conditions are referred to better-equipped hospitals outside the district,” Information Officer Khatri said.
Chief of the Health Service Office, Dr. Sunil Pun, said that five to seven patients with eye-related problems visit the hospital every day. He stated that the hospital has been unable to provide the necessary services due to a lack of skilled personnel.
According to Chief Pun, repeated requests have been made to the provincial government’s Ministry of Social Development and other concerned authorities to arrange the required human resources for resuming eye treatment services, but no action has been taken so far. “Due to the shortage of personnel, we have no option but to provide basic treatment and refer patients elsewhere. We are making the necessary efforts to resume the service,” Chief Pun said.
Local residents have urged the provincial government and the concerned authorities to make immediate arrangements to resume eye treatment services at the District Hospital so that the general public can access essential eye care services within the district.