JAJARKOT: With the chief staying on deputation and other medical officers remaining out of the district, Jajarkot District Hospital has been facing shortage of doctors which has affected the provision of day to day health services at the hospital.

Dental Surgeon Dr Chandani Jaiswal, who was assigned as the hospital head, is currently deputed at the Department of Health Services, while other medical officers including Dr Krishna Jung Shah, Dr Dharma Raj Regmi and Dr Keshar Jung Karki have remained absent for a long time.

Likewise, two medical officers, Dr Sunil Pun and Dr Bhupendra Prakash Malla are out of the district whereas Dr Nish Raj Basnet has been living in the United States for further studies without any leave approval. Dr Basnet was seen at the hospital last November but his attendance has been zero ever since.

In absence of the hospital chief and medical officers, the entire hospital is currently being run by volunteer doctor Amin Shah, who is also looking after the daily administrative works.

Hospital chief Jaiswal was sent abroad by DoHS in the midst of her service term while other medical officers are out of the district for training and preparation for higher medical studies.

The locals have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction over the chaotic condition of the hospital but concerned authorities have failed to address the sorry state of affairs at the health service facility.

Jajarkot Chief District Officer Pushpa Raj Shahi said that he has corresponded to DoHS several times but the situation remains unchanged.

“I have written multiple letters to the DoHS requesting them to send Dr Jaiswal back to the hospital but they haven't addressed my requests yet. The hospital is being run by a single volunteer doctor. The health services at the district has obviously been adversely affected,” said CDO Shahi.

Volunteer doctor Shah said he has no idea where the hospital chief and other medical officers are at. “I am new at the hospital so I do not have a proper idea as to where they are at the moment,” said Shah.

Likewise, Hospital Development Committee Chairperson Mahendra Shah blames DoHS for causing chaotic condition at the district hospital. “We have requested DoHS many times to send Dr Jaiswal back to the district and to direct medical officers to resume services at the hospital but they have not listened to us,” said Chairperson Shah.

Meanwhile, three Primary Health Centres of the district are also facing the human resource crunch. Dr Sanjiv Kiran Pradhan of Limsha PHC, Dr Pawan Shakya of Garkhakot PHC, Dr Sanjay Kumar Yadav and Dr Sanjay Thapa of Damli PHC are currently out of the district. Dr Yadav had left the district claiming CDO Shahi threatened him while others are said to be busy preparing for entrance examination of Masters of Medicine (MD).