Bir Hospital starts treatment services for rheumatic diseases

Kathmandu, May 15

Bir Hospital has begun providing treatment services for rheumatic diseases.

Dr Bhupendra Basnet, director at the hospital, said they felt the need to start treatment services after the number of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases increased at the hospital. “We began providing treatment services for rheumatic diseases since the Nepali New Year,” he said adding that although the number of patients suffering from such diseases is increasing, hospitals lack sufficient specialist doctors.

“The hospital has hired Dr Anjal Bishta, a doctor who recently returned from abroad after completing studies, to provide treatment services for rheumatic diseases,” said Dr Basnet. Currently, the hospital has been providing treatment services to 15 to 20 patients.

Dr Bishta, rheumatologist at the hospital, said most of the cases the hospital received were referral cases, while nearly 15 to 20 people suffering from rheumatic diseases visited the hospital’s out-patient department. Rheumatic diseases are characterised by inflammation that affects the connecting structures of the body, most commonly the joints, but also sometimes the tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles.

“Due to lack of awareness rheumatic diseases are ignored, but this results in severe health complications  among people,” said Dr Bishta.