Lack of Human Resource Halts Operation of Ventilators in Lamjung

  June 7, 2021 By: INSEC

The ventilators installed in Lamjung District Hospital have not been operated even after five months due to a lack of skilled manpower.

The ventilators were installed five months ago, said Hemanta Shrestha, Chief Administrator of the hospital.

Chairperson of the Consumer Interest Protection Forum and Civil Society Leader Kisaan Sangeet Nepali said that the beneficiaries have been deprived of access to health services in the district during the COVID crisis.

At present, the country lacks ventilators for the treatment of patients in various health organizations. Although the number of active Covid cases has decreased over the past few days, the number of people receiving treatment in ICUs and ventilators remains the same.

Although five ICUs and three ventilators have been installed in the hospital with the intention of providing standardized health services in the district, they could not be operated due to lack of skilled manpower, said Chief Shrestha.

He informed the INSEC representative that skilled anesthesiologists and physicians are needed to operate the ICU and ventilators and despite the demand, they have not been available so far.

Shrestha has complained that the federal, provincial, and local governments have been repeatedly informed about the lack of skilled manpower but no initiative has been taken for its management so far.

He said that the service recipients who have come to the district for ICU and ventilator treatment are being referred to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.

Chief of the District Coordination Committee Lamjung, Lokraj Pandey, said that initiatives and coordination are being taken from his place to provide the skilled manpower required to operate the ICU and ventilator as soon as possible.


Dal Bahadur Majakoti