RAMECHHAP: In utter mockery of the government’s announcement of free health services, Primary Health Centre located in Manthali, the district headquarters of Ramechhap, lacked even a peon yesterday.

Patients who came to the health facility early in the morning were left high and dry. Twenty-one-year-old Kaili Majhi of Chisapani VDC-8, who was brought to the centre for delivery, almost lost life as she was not attended by a health worker on time. Relatives of Majhi blew the ambulance siren for long but no health official turned up.

“Finally, we took the patient to Tamakoshi Sahakari Hospital,” said Birmaya Majhi, a relative of the patient.

She said the declaration of free health service was merely a popular slogan. The government has announced to provide Rs 1,000 besides clothes for the infant and free medicine for women who go to a state-run health facility for delivery, in its budget to what it calls promote safe delivery.

“This is the second time we had to return due to the absence of a doctor,” she said.