DIKTEL (KHOTANG), JUN 25 - Following pregnancy-related complications, Hasta Basnet of Sapteshwor Chhitapokhari VDC-4 in Khotang had to be airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment on Thursday.
Her family members chartered a helicopter to take her to a Capital-based hospital where she gave birth through surgery.
Basnet’s family was able to afford the helicopter and that saved her life and that of her baby. However, not everyone in this eastern hill district can afford to do so in times of medical emergency.
Since Khotang lacks proper health facilities, taking the sick to Kathmandu and other cities is the only option people have the fare could go as high as Rs 150,000.
Road transport is still poor in the district and even though the district has three airports, flights are irregular.
“If a family does not have Rs 150,000, people could lose their lives,” said Kumar Prasad Acharya, the former chairman of Nagarunmukh VDC.
Chief of the Khotang District Hospital Dr Nawalkishor Jha said around 150 patients are regularly referred outside the district for treatment as they lack specialists.
“There are three doctors but no specialists. So in times of special medical need, we have been referring patients to Kathmandu,” Dr Jha said. “Those who are financially well-off can charter a helicopter, but not everyone can do this.”
Local health posts in Khotang have faced a dearth of staff for months. This has inconvenienced many. Distribution of medical staff to Khotang was made on the basis of the population of the district 20 years ago.
Over the years, the population of the district has increased and so has the number of people seeking health services. The condition of health facilities and medical services, however, remains the same—understaffed and under-resourced.
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/06/25/top-story/where-taking-the-sick-to-hospital-costs-a-whopping-rs-150000/356112/
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