Bir back to healing ways after senior officials exit

Kathmandu, December 8:

After nearly a month of protest programmes, the Bir Hospital, the largest hospital in the country, resumed its regular services from today.

The staffers at the hospital obstructed regular services for 25 days since November 13, alleging the management of failing in its duties and not maintaining transparency in its dealings. They had also demanded the resignation of Dr Bishwaraj Dali, vice-chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), under which the hospital runs.

The hospital resumed its services after nine officials —including the VC, rector Dr Bijaya Ram Sharma, dean Dr Briddhi Jha, registrar Dr Ranjan Singh and director of the hospital Shrawan Kumar Chaudhary — tendered their resignations yesterday.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health and Population has deployed Dr Kiran Manandhar, assistant dean of the NAMS, as the officiating VC. “The officiating VDC has been appointed to ensure smooth functioning of the NAMS and the hospital,” Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, a member of the probe committee formed to investigate irregularities in the hospital, said. He also said that the resignations of the officials had not been approved. “It has been forwarded to the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that the probe committee will begin its works on Wednesday.

Laxman Aryal, president of NAMS Employees’ Welfare Society, said all the staffers returned to their respective duties today. “We conducted a meeting of HoDs today and have decided to accelerate all works in the hospital so as to make for the 25-day work loss,” Aryal added. He also said that a five-member committee had been formed to analyse the situation and prepare a report, as per the demand of resident doctors.

The staffers had demanded an increment in the number of nursing staff, permanent appointment of temporary staffers at the hospital, among others.