Surgery Services Halted at Sindhuli Hospital Due to Lack of Anesthesiologist

Ramechhap — Surgery services at Sindhuli Hospital have been shut down due to the absence of an anesthesiologist. The service has been stalled for a month, causing significant hardship for patients. With no specialist to administer anesthesia, the hospital's operation theater is completely closed, and the hospital administration reports that all patients requiring surgery must now be referred elsewhere. Operations for orthopedic issues, appendicitis, and childbirth have all been halted.

Locals complain that while a surgery might cost around 10,000 rupees at the district hospital, they are now forced to pay that same amount just for ambulance charges to reach Dhulikhel or Janakpur. 

Despite having two orthopedic specialists at the hospital, even minor surgeries cannot be performed. Patients who could have been treated for 10,000 rupees at Sindhuli Hospital are spending more than that on transportation alone, and many are forced to seek expensive treatment in Kathmandu or Janakpur. 

Over the past year, the hospital had performed more than 500 surgeries, but the lack of a single specialist has deprived the entire district of these services.

Health Minister of Bagmati Province, Kiran Thapa Magar, acknowledged that services have been affected by the lack of specialists and stated that an advertisement will be issued immediately to recruit and send a specialist. He also mentioned that alternative arrangements would be explored in the meantime.