DHARAN: Minister for Health and Population, Birodh Khatiwada visited the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) Thursday and took stock of the situation of the hospital suffering financial losses.

On the occasion, the team led by Minister Khadka, who also serves as the pro-chancellor of BPKIHS, met and interacted with local representatives of political parties, bodies concerned and a pressure group formed at the civic-level on the BPKIHS issues, including alleged involvement of its office bearers in financial irregularities.

The Minister also inspected the hospital emergency ward and directed further systematization of it service delivery. It is said the team was on the occasion advised to swing into action against those hospital office bearers accused of their involvement in various scams.

A high-level committee formed to probe the BPKIHS issues under the coordination of Minister Khatiwada comprises senate member and Ministry secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel and another senate member and Dharan metropolis Mayor Tilak Rai. The probe committee had met with the hospital Vice Chancellor Dr Gyanedra Giri, Rector Dr Guru Khanal and Director Dr Gauri Shankar Shah separately and took their statements.

The size of accumulated losses of the BPKIHS is Rs seven billion and it has incurred the loss of Rs 910 million since the fiscal year 2020-21. Hospital doctors, employees and students have been agitated, citing anomalies, financial irregularities in the Institute.