SOLUKHUMBU: The 15-bed Phaplu District Hospital has been operating well beyond its capacity, providing services to as many as 54 patients at a time.
The hospital is under increasing strain as it continues to accommodate more patients than it was designed for.
Acting Chief Dr. Shreya Pangeni said, “Although we are officially a 15-bed hospital, we have over 50 patients admitted daily. We’re compelled to provide maternity, emergency, and gynecology services with limited resources. While the infrastructure is sufficient, we are severely short-staffed.”
Of the 18 sanctioned permanent posts at the hospital, only five are currently filled. These include one medical officer, one senior nursing inspector, two unskilled workers, and one office assistant. The remaining 13 posts are vacant, creating serious gaps in essential services.
“When one doctor is required to attend to all types of patients, it often means working round the clock,” said Dr. Pangeni.
“The psychological burden is intense.” At present, 72 percent of the hospital’s staff positions remain unfilled.
“We’re supposed to work eight-hour shifts, but we’re working 12 to 13 hours daily. The mental and physical exhaustion is taking a toll, and it’s nearly impossible to maintain a work-life balance,” said Dipti Chaudhary, a staff nurse at the hospital.
Currently, the hospital operates with the support of 32 contract employees, 11 of whom are salaried through the Hospital Development Committee.
However, the reliance on temporary staff has made it difficult to implement long-term plans, provide consistent training, and improve systems.
Senior Nursing Inspector Sani Sherpa explained, “Many doctors join through scholarship contracts for just six months to a year. While they bring valuable experience, their short tenures prevent the hospital from achieving sustainable development.”
Despite the contribution of contract doctors, the hospital continues to suffer from a shortage of permanent medical staff.
Krishna Prasad Niraula, Chairman of the Hospital Development Committee and Chief of the District Coordination Committee, said, “We’ve repeatedly appealed to the provincial government for manpower. We’ve raised concerns about everything—from hospital upgrades and budget to staffing—but nothing has been addressed.”
He added that he recently met with the provincial health minister and formally requested a 30-bed facility along with the necessary staff positions.
In response, Provincial Health Minister Bhupendra Rai stated that the vacant posts will be filled only after the Public Service Commission completes its recruitment process.
“We are preparing to fill the vacancies through the Commission. There is a shortage of manpower across the province,” he said.
Comment