DIPAYAL: With a sudden rise in temperature, the number of patients being admitted

to health posts in the far west region has been on the rise.

Dr Khakendra Bhandari at the Western Regional Health Directorate said most of the patients being brought to the District Hospital and health posts were suffering from diseases such as dysentery, typhoid and common cold.

"There has been a 90 per cent rise in the number of patients visiting the hospital," Hari Shah, health assistant, Doti District Hospital, said, adding that the hospital was running short of beds to treat the patients.

As many as 200 patients are visiting Achham District Hospital every day, health workers said.

According to Dipayal-based regional health directorate, most of the patients in Bajura district were down with fever.

The hospitals and health posts have been facing difficulties due to shortage of doctors and health workers. Moreover, the posts of doctors are vacant in all primary health centres in the rural areas.

Though there are 71 posts for doctors in the far west, only 25 have been filled yet. Patients have also been hit hard due to shortage of medicine in the district.

As there was acute shortage of medicines in health institutions in the rural areas, the patients were being referred to the district hospital, said Shankar Sharma, a health worker.

Bhimsing Tinkari, director, Far West Regional Office, however, claimed that there was adequate stock of medicines to prevent the spread of diseases.