Khasyauli, March 1:

Lack of oxygen due to the recent bandh called by various Madhesi outfits has affected complex surgery and emergency services in hospitals in the Lumbini zone.

Ajaya Kumar, senior administrative officer at the teaching hospital of the Universal College of Medical Sciences in Bhairahawa, said the hospital has been hit hard by the lack of oxygen for nearly a month now.

Due to the lack of oxygen, the hospital has been facing difficulties in providing services to patients needing complex surgeries and artificial respiration.

Kumar said nearly 500 patients visit the hospital daily and over 10 surgeries are conducted in a day. Oxygen cylinders are normally imported through Birgunj point, which was completely paralysed due to the bandh for nearly three weeks, he said. Director of the Amda Hospital in Butwal Dr Binod Parajuli said though the hospital was not closed, it did not have adequate oxygen cylinders.

Medical superintendent of the Lumbini Zonal Hospital Dr Yam Bahadur Wali said they were also hit hard by the lack of oxygen.

The stock of oxygen at Bhim Hospital in Bhairahawa was finished many days ago, according to the medical superintendent Dr Manohar Joshi.

Central secretary of the Consumers’ Rights Protection Forum Norbu Lama said it was sad that the patients are deprived of their basic right to get medical treatment due to the short supply of oxygen.

Rupandehi chief district officer Dhruba Raj Wagle said he has heard of the shortage and promised to extend any help to import and provide security for the import of oxygen cylinders.