Kathmandu, January 16:

Only three doctors and four nurses are providing service to more than 300 patients everyday at the Pashupati Homeopathy Hospital — the only homeopathy hospital in the country.

The staff strength of the hospital, which provides free medicine and service, has remained same since its inception in 1953, but the number of service seekers have soared by over 100 times in the past five decades.

“More than 60,000 patients visited the hospital in 2006-07. Health services and medicines are provided free of cost for indoor and outdoor patients,” said Dr Shabbir Khan, chief of the hospital.

Dr Khan said small staff had to attend patients besides preparing and distributing medicines. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has allocated Rs 550,000 in the current fiscal year for medicines.

The hospital lacks equipment for basic diagnostics and testing infrastructure.

“If the hospital is allowed to charge a minimum amount in tickets, it would make it financially less dependent on the MoHP. This would also make its service more effective,” Dr Khan added.

Doctors at the hospital say the hospital is unable to grow which has also limited the homeopathy practice in the country. The hospital administration has repeatedly tried

to draw the attention of

the MoHP to expand

the hospital to 25 beds, but in vain.

It is learnt that the government’s indifference

has resulted in improper utilisation of the hospital’s infrastructure.