PHALEBAS, PARBAT: The District Hospital in Parbat has suspended ambulance service for the past eight months following malfunctioning of its only ambulance, thus affecting patients.

The hospital's ambulance — purchased five years ago — has been left at Pokhara-based repair centre for repair.

"The repair centre said it would cost Rs 500,000 to restore the ambulance. But the hospital lacks the budget to pay for the repair service," said the hospital Chief Dr Buddhi Bahadur Thapa.

Kushma Municipality and Western Regional Health Directorate have been written to time and again asking for budget for the repair, but to no avail so far, said Raghu Nath Regmi of the hospital development committee.

As a result, the hospital is facing difficulty to refer patients elsewhere, said Thapa, adding that it receives approximately 100 patients on a daily basis.

Taxis are being used to refer patients from the hospital charging higher fee, said a hospital employee.