June 19, Kathmandu – Nepali Communist Party lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Mall has drawn attention to the critical issues in healthcare services in Salyan, citing inadequate health infrastructure, equipment shortages, and a lack of specialized doctors. Speaking during the zero hour of today’s House of Representatives session, he urged the government to address these pressing concerns.
Recalling a recent incident at Salyan District Hospital where a pregnant woman was reportedly turned away at the hospital gate due to absence of specialist doctors, Mall described this case as a distressing reflection of the broader healthcare challenges in Salyan. Although there are sanctioned posts for seven specialist doctors at the hospital, currently only one is on duty, he reported.
Mall attributed the stalled development of hospital infrastructure to managerial inefficiencies, government neglect, and irresponsible contractors. He emphasized that the lack of essential medical equipment is even affecting routine surgeries. While the government has announced the establishment of 15-bed basic hospitals in each local municipality, he noted that work remains incomplete at many of these sites.
Highlighting that 76 specialist doctor positions remain vacant in Karnali Province even after two recruitment advertisements, he raised questions about accountability for these shortages. Mall called for urgent measures, including deploying specialists who have returned after studying on government scholarships, through provincial government arrangements and the commission, and urged the Speaker to draw the central government’s serious attention to this matter.
