Parbat: The Province Hospital, located in Parbat, has started offering services from specialist doctors for the first time in its 35-year history.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the hospital, which operates with 64 beds, has managed to provide these specialized services through internal management and a government scholarship quota. However, there remains a need for additional quotas from the provincial government, even after recent upgrades.
Dr. Hemant Bastola, the medical superintendent at the hospital, stated that they have begun offering orthopedic, pediatric, and gynecological services. He expressed hope that the provincial government would help in the gradual appointment of more specialist doctors.
Currently, Dr. Prakash Gautam is serving as a pediatrician, Dr. Dhundi Raj Poudel as an orthopedic and neurologist, Dr. Priyas Adhikari as a gynecologist, and Dr. Bal Krishna Shrestha as an anesthesiologist. These doctors, who completed their MD on a government scholarship, are required to work at the hospital for at least two years.
Dr. Bastola highlighted that with the availability of these services at the Province Hospital, patients from Parbat district and neighboring areas would no longer need to travel to Pokhara or other hospitals for orthopedic care.
The hospital, with its team of 110 staff members, currently provides services to approximately 300 patients daily, according to Shankar Giri, the outgoing chairperson of the hospital.