News Summary
- Civil society in Dolpa has drawn the attention of the Karnali Provincial Government to the need to expand specialized health services at Dolpa District Hospital.
- The Nick Simons Institute had prioritized Dolpa Hospital for its specialist health services program in remote areas, but the provincial government’s recent hospital selection excluded Dolpa, leading to grievances.
- The Ministry of Social Development selected five hospitals excluding Dolpa and has been petitioned for immediate revision to include Dolpa District Hospital.
Chaitra 9, Dolpa – A demand has been raised for the expansion of specialist health services in Dolpa district, drawing the attention of the Karnali Provincial Government.
On Monday, Dolpa’s civil society submitted a memorandum to the District Administration Office seeking the provincial government’s urgent attention to this issue.
The Nick Simons Institute’s program, aimed at providing specialist health services in remote areas, includes a call for Dolpa District Hospital to be prioritized.
However, civil society expressed objection to the provincial government’s hospital selection list for health service expansion that did not include Dolpa District Hospital.
According to Sher Bahadur Budha, Chairman of Dolpa Civil Society, the memorandum was submitted through the District Administration Office to the Chief Minister and Cabinet Office in Birendranagar, Surkhet, highlighting concerns about the exclusion.
The memorandum emphasizes that Dolpa is geographically extremely remote and ranks low on human development indices, reasons that warrant prioritizing its district hospital.
The Nick Simons Institute had conducted detailed studies and moved forward with prioritizing Dolpa District Hospital, but the provincial government’s decision is seen as disregarding the district.
The Ministry of Social Development selected hospitals in Salkot (Surkhet), Dullu (Dailekh), Raskot (Kalikot), Atbisekot (Rukum West), and Humla for the program.
Despite Dolpa’s priority status based on needs and remoteness, the district was omitted, causing dissatisfaction among local civil society.
Social activist Babi Kishor Gurung criticized the ministry’s decision as unscientific and biased, alleging that districts in remote areas were sidelined on the basis of position and influence.
The memorandum calls for the immediate revision of this decision to include Dolpa District Hospital among the five hospitals where the Nick Simons Institute program will be implemented.
