Damauli, February 18

Phulbari Community Hospital in Suklagandaki Municipality has remained shut for the past four months due to lack of doctors in Tanahun.

The hospital had been providing health services to the locals of Suklagandaki Municipality, Harinas Rural Municiplaity, Biruwa Rural Municipality and Putali Bazaar Municipality of Syangja. The locals are facing problems after closure of the health facility. The hospital failed to provide regular health services soon after it was handed over to the local level.

Ward Chair Ram Chandra Bhandari said the hospital could not provide regular health services  as the Ministry for Health and Population failed to deploy required doctors on time. “The ministry has not deployed doctors even after frequent reminders,” he added.  He informed that they were compelled to close the hospital as they failed to provide health services to people with limited resources.

Suklagandaki Municipality said preparations were under way to appoint doctors and other health workers.

According to the municipality, the hospital required MBBS doctors, staff nurses, and technicians. The municipality added that as many as 24 posts were vacant at the hospital. The hospital was established as Phulbari Service Centre with the financial assistance of German citizen Ev Kasel in 1999. Later, the the service centre was converted into a community hospital.