KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6

Major government hospitals were short of critical biomedical equipment, such as ventilators and oxygen concentrators, during the time when the coronavirus pandemic had peaked in Nepal, said a study.

According to a report 'Assessment of Biomedical Equipment in Government Designated COVID-19 Hospitals in Kathmandu Valley' prepared by Nepal Health Research Council of the Government of Nepal and Mission Oxygen Team, only a few hospitals had permanent biomedical technicians and engineers in place.

Also, the study showed there was urgent need of a uniform guideline to ensure proper distribution and management of biomedical equipment in government hospitals.

COVID-19 impacted the healthcare system of Nepal in a colossal way. The major COVID-19 hospitals in Nepal faced enormous challenges due to increased burden of patient flow.

This study was aimed to assess the biomedical equipment in government-designated COV- ID-19 hospitals in the valley.

This study was conducted in eight COVID-19 hospitals. They include Teku-based Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kirtipur-based National Ayurveda Research and Training Centre, Civil Hospital, National Trauma Centre, Bir Hospital, Bhaktapur Hospital, Nepal APF Hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

'Overall, the data was collected from only eight COVID-19 designated hospitals, and that did not provide clear understanding of the gap in biomedical devices.

However, it was observed that major government hospitals experienced scarcity of critical equipment during the peak period of COVID-19 in Nepal,' the report read.

According to the report, future studies should focus on all government and private hospitals. Specific guidelines need to be made for biomedical equipment handling and monitoring.

It also underlined the need to launch massive awareness campaign regarding the importance of biomedical instruments in a bid to prevent catastrophe during future pandemics.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.