Rajbiraj, November 22:

Patients in the emergency unit of Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital are being referred to other medical facilities due to the shortage of doctors. Only three government-appointed doctors are working in the hospital at present, whereas the number of doctors required is 19.

The hospital has been facing hindrances in the treatment of its patients as three of its doctors have been transferred elsewhere within a year. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Ashokananda Mishra too retired three months ago. No new doctors have yet been appointed in these vacant positions. Another doctor at the hospital, Dr Diya Yadav, also left for further studies last month.

Around 150 patients come to the hospital daily for treatment.

Although two doctors had been appointed by the Hospital Development Committee, the committee has not been able to pay them, chairman of the committee, Satya Narayan Mandal, said.