MUSTANG: A five-bed basic hospital has been built at Lomanthang rural municipality of Upper Mustang.

The two-and-half-storey basic health service hospital was constructed through the joint investment of the rural municipality under Integrated Health Infrastructure Development Programme of the federal government.

The contract was signed in fiscal year 2078/79 BS for the construction of the infrastructures within two years in order to provide health services to people of Upper Mustang. The construction of the hospital was not completed within deadline due to various reasons including COVID-19 pandemic.

The 27-room hospital was constructed near Lomanthang town in Lomanthang-5 at a cost of Rs 71.9 million, said Officiating Chief of the rural municipality, Bikas KC. The hospital building has an operation theatre, an X-ray room, a lab room, a maternity ward, pharmacy as well as quarters for doctors and health workers.

Chairperson of Lomanthang rural municipality, Tashi Narbu Gurung, said though the hospital building was constructed to provide basic health services to the citizens of Upper Mustang, it lacks medical equipment and human resources.

Gurung added, “Support of the federal and province governments is necessary to run the health services at the hospital.