PARBAT, Jan 28: The District Hospital of Parbat has suspended ambulance service for the past eight months following malfunctioning of its only ambulance, thus affecting patients.
Five years ago, the hospital had purchased an ambulance. However, after mechanical problems, the ambulance has been left at Pokhara-based repair centre for repair. "The repair centre said it would cost Rs 500,000 to repair the ambulance. But the hospital lacks budget to pay for the repair fee," said the hospital Chief Dr Buddhi Bahadur Thapa.
Ambulance handed over to Thuli Pokhari Primary Health Centre
Kushma Municipality and Western Regional Health Directorate have repeatedly written the central government for sufficient budget to repair. The central government has turned a deaf ear to our need, Raghu Nath Regmi of the hospital development committee.
Without an ambulance, the hospital is facing difficulties to refer patients elsewhere and it is forced to use taxies, that charge higher fee to ferry patients to Pokhara. Every day, around 100 patients visit the hospital for services. RSS
