Residents have been forced to go without basic healthcare services due to a shortage of doctors at the only district hospital in Humla. The lack of necessary medical personnel at the district hospital in Simkot, the district headquarters, has rendered treatment services increasingly ineffective. There has been a growing trend of referring patients elsewhere after only basic examinations.
A few days ago, a man from Chankheli Rural Municipality–2 was brought to the district hospital after being seriously injured in a fall from a cliff. However, the hospital referred him elsewhere, stating that treatment was not possible there. According to relatives, he died at Simkot Airport while being taken to Surkhet for further treatment.
Similarly, earlier this month, Basna Shahi, 34, from Chankheli Rural Municipality–4, and Asmita Budha (Lama), 25, from Simkot Rural Municipality–4, Buraunse, were referred to the Provincial Hospital in Surkhet when they required maternity services.
Belu Rokaya of Simkot–5 complained that she did not find a doctor when she went to the hospital for the treatment of her 5-year-old son. According to her, the treatment was provided by a nurse. Lalpuri Sunar of Dandafya, Simkot Rural Municipality–7, said she walked for two hours to reach the hospital with her sick daughter, but did not receive the test report immediately after the examination.
These incidents at the district hospital are only representative. Most patients are compelled to rely more on the referral process than on receiving treatment. The hospital is facing a shortage of adequate doctors, medicines, and equipment.
The 15-bed hospital has long been lacking specialist doctors as per its sanctioned positions. According to hospital chief Dr. Umakanta Tiwari, all three specialist positions at the ninth level (gynecologist/obstetrician, general surgeon, and orthopedics specialist) remain vacant.
Similarly, out of the four sanctioned posts for medical officers, only one is currently in service, while others are on study leave or other leave. At present, the hospital has one volunteer doctor and two scholarship-based contract doctors.
Dr. Tiwari stated that specialists are unwilling to come due to the remoteness of the area. “There are difficulties in service delivery due to a shortage of human resources,” he said.
Although the hospital claims to be providing emergency, laboratory, X-ray, and maternity services, the lack of sufficient manpower has prevented these services from being effective. Despite healthcare being a fundamental right of citizens, people in Humla are being deprived even of basic treatment.