Nepalgunj, October 6:

Treatment of patients has been severely affected in Bardiya District Hospital after three physicians of the hospital went on home leave to celebrate Dashain.

The absence of three physicians has affected functioning of the hospital, which has been witnessing a rise in the number of patients.

The Health Ministry had directed all health facilities to make arrangements for smooth functioning of all health facilities despite Dashain.

With three physicians on leave, the hospital does not have enough physicians to attend to increasing number of patients.

Sabitri Khadka, a staff nurse at the hospital, said the shortage of physicians had affected the treatment of diarrhoea, flu and typhoid patients. Peons and other hospital staffers have been looking after patients in the absence of physicians, a hospital source said.

The hospital has deputed two senior assistant health workers (AHWs) to treat patients.

A member of the hospital development committee, Gita Adhikari, conceded that the absence of three physicians was affecting the treatment of patients.

"Peon is administering saline water to several patients in emergency wards. Citing the shortage of physicians, the hospital is turning away scores of patients," Adhikari added.

The problem is sure to aggravate further as AHWS are also scheduled to go on home leave soon.

Meanwhile, the hospital has decided to ask the Ministry of Health to depute a physician to look after emergency services.

"It is the fundamental right of an individual to receive treatment. The centre must dispatch a physician to the hospital soon," Adhikari said.