Rautahat, April 2:

Medical superintendent at Rautahat District Hospital Dr Ram Shankar Thakur, who was transferred two months ago to Butwal, has not been able to leave Rautahat and attend to his office in Butwal due to the lack of doctors in Rautahat hospital.

The Department of Health had transferred Dr Thakur to Butwal-based Lumbini zonal hospital two months ago. Rautahat district hospital source said that Thakur had not left for Butwal since the Rautahat hospital had no doctor.

“Patients are forced to go to India or Birgunj for treatment despite the hospital in the district,” said Nepali Congress district working committee member Shyam Chandra Jha. He also said that the government was not serious about addressing such problems. Meanwhile, Dr Thakur said he couldn’t go to Butwal as there was no one to replace him. Local leaders asked the government to transfer Thakur only after appointing his alternative in the Rautahat hospital.