KATHMANDU, MAY 20
The Humla District Hospital, the sole healthcare facility in the district, is facing a shortage of drugs, leading to difficulties in patient treatment, which has worsened with recent changes in weather.
The hospital has been experiencing a drug crisis for the past month. Patients have reported that they are forced to purchase prescribed drugs from private pharmacies due to the hospital's shortages.
Currently, the hospital lacks drugs for treating common ailments such as cold, diarrhea, and other seasonal illnesses.
Dhan Bahadur Tamata, a resident of Kharpunath Rural Municipality-3, stated that patients are unable to obtain even the medicines that are supposed to be provided free of charge. He mentioned that he has been purchasing drugs from private pharmacies for his sister, who was admitted to the hospital two days ago, emphasizing the unavailability of even basic medications in the hospital.
With the hospital unable to provide medicines to patients, the impoverished individuals in the district are disproportionately affected as treatment costs rise for them.
However, Medical Officer of the District Hospital, Surjan Kumar Singh, noted that the number of patients has increased since the beginning of May. The hospital sees as many as 80 patients every Sunday and Monday, with numbers exceeding 50 on other days.
