TULSIPUR, AUGUST 16: The Rapti State Hospital in Tulsipur of Dang has lately focused on service strengthening. Lately, five hemodialysis machines have been added here.
Similarly, sickle cell anemia test facility has been available in the hospital since last fiscal year, said hospital chief Dr Sarbesh Sharma. Prior to this, one had to visit either Nepalgunj or Kathmandu for this test. More, the hospital has launched the endoscopy facility from the current fiscal year. An advanced X-ray machine has been brought in a bid to address the demand for so. However, the state-level hospital continues to face a shortage of human resources. As shared by Dr Sharma, available human resources including doctors are less to meet the approved quotas. "We are experiencing an increasing flow of patients, lately we have concentrated on service expansion, however, the shortage of the required number of human resources has been an obstacle in achieving the expected results," he added. Each doctor is compelled to see 148 patients in a day against the provision of 25, according to him.
Rapti Provincial Hospital struggling due to workforce crunch
Despite quotas for 16 medical specialists, it has presently six doctors. The originally 50-bed hospital now functions as the 95-bed facility amidst limited resources. Its services include lab, X-ray, maternity care, ultrasound, surgery, OPD, emergency and so on. The hospital records show that 61,948 people had received its services last fiscal year. It recorded the deaths of 45 patients including three children in this period.