KHOTANG: Lack of sufficient health workers compounded by necessary resources has marred the check-up and treatment services here in Khotang District Hospital lately.

The 15-bed hospital lacks sufficient beds as around 25 patients visit the hospital daily nowadays.

Although there are positions for four doctors, only a single doctor -- Dr Om Biju Pant -- is attending to the rising number of patients. The patients often fail to get proper treatment as Dr Pant cannot attend to everyone. Worse still, Dr Pant is often busy organising trainings.

Among the remaining three doctors, Dr Raju Basnet is on leave while Dr Shree Krishna Bhatt has gone to Kathmandu. And, Dr Kalyanraj Basnet has been deputed to Patan Mental Hospital in Lalitpur for a year.

"Assistant health workers, nurses and midwives are even involved in diagnosing the patients," Laxmi Saiju, a staff nurse said. The frequent power cut is also adversely affecting services in the hospital.