BAJURA, JULY 26
A high blood pressure patient died while waiting for a plane in Kolti Primary Health Centre, Bajura, last night.
Birkha Lal Karki, 60, of Khaltyang Rural Municipality, Mugu, died as the airplane did not reach the airport.
Ratapani Primary Health Centre referred Karki to Kolti Primary Health Centre two days ago after treatment was impossible at the health centre. Dr Pratik Neupane of Kolti Primary Health Centre said that Karki was referred to Kolti after his condition worsened. Neupane said that Karki could not be taken to the health facility by road due to the obstruction of the road along the Karnali Corridor at the Martadi-Kolti Road section. He said that Neupane died last night. "The plane could not land due to bad weather," he added.
Relatives waited for the plane to take the patient to hospital but he died waiting for the plane. The relatives tried their best to manage a helicopter but in vain.
Karki lost his life in the primary health centre due to obstruction of the road and bad weather.
Dr Neupane said the treatment was impossible without CT scan. "We had referred, but the plane did not arrive. Unfortunately, the patient died," he added.
As many as four patients have lost their lives in three months' time waiting for the plane and on the way to hospital.
Agni Bohora of Budinanda Municipality and Aina Giri of Jagannath Rural Municipality died a month ago due to transport problem.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Office, Kolti, said that the planes could not arrive due to bad weather. The aviation company blamed bad weather, but it is not true.
Earlier, Budinanda Municipality Ward Chair Satabir Bohora died waiting for a plane.
Health workers collectively complained that patients had been facing problems and were compelled to lose their lives due to lack of ambulance and timely air service.
Janak Kumar Bista, a local, said patients died even though the schedule for air services were managed weekly. Sita, Tara, Nepal Airlines, Summit airlines conduct flights to the district.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
