KATHMANDU, MAY 20
As much as 14 percent of the total health equipment in the country remains unused, a study has revealed.
The survey of biomedical equipment in Nepal's public health institutions, conducted by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with Lifeline Enterprises, showed that 2,645 pieces of health equipment are still not installed in health institutions.
Anjali Tiwariwal, Chairperson of Lifeline Enterprises, said that data were collected from 11 hospitals in the Bagmati, Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim provinces, and that 1,823 pieces of health equipment are dysfunctional. The study, carried out from October 2023 to April 2024, surveyed the status of 19,174 hospitals.
Bhaskar Rijal, a biomedical engineer involved in the study, stated that 1,174 sets of equipment remain unused despite being in proper condition. "The equipment imported during the COVID-19 pandemic is left unused due to the lack of COVID-19 patients," Rijal added.
Rijal further noted that the CT scan machines at Bir Hospital, APF Hospital, and Koshi Hospital have deteriorated, with severe complaints about the charger boards and batteries.
Meanwhile, Dr. Santosh Poudel, Director of Bir Hospital, shared that his hospital lacks biomedical engineers to repair and operate such equipment.
