The Mission Hospital here has remained closed for around two decades. Established in 2050 BS at Paiyu Rural Municipality-4 in the district with the aim of providing health service to the people of rural areas in the district in particular, the health facility was closed citing insecurity during the Maoist insurgency, it has been said.
However, no efforts have been taken on the part of concerned authorities to resume the hospital despite repeated calls from the local people in this regard, said local people.
The hospital building was constructed on 15 ropanis of land with investments of Rs 15 million provided by an international non-governmental organisation. The hospital provided all sorts of health services including specialist healthcare and surgery, benefiting people from Parbat, Syangja and Gulmi districts. It then had two doctors from the United States and four Nepali doctors. Without operation for a long time, four buildings for the hospital and furniture have been dilapidated.
The roofs are leaking after the tiles have broken and dislodged. The hospital buildings will be completely damaged without repair on time, said Ganga Neupane, former registrar of the hospital. "The US Government called back all its doctors working for the hospital during the conflict. The health facility remained closed after they left," he said.
The closure of the hospital has affected local people as the government has been ignorant in its operation, said a local social worker Lal Bahadur Pradhan. "After the hospital closed, local patients were forced to visit places like Pokhara, Syangja, Butwal, Palpa and Bhairahawa," he said. The health facility would receive from 50 to 100 patients on a daily basis.
Another local Anita Sharma accused the local level of being apathetic in operating the hospital. "We have urged all concerned to operate the health facility. But none should concern to this effect," said Mitra Lal Bashyal, member of the Province Assembly of Gandaki Province. ---
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