बिपी कोइराला मेमोरियल क्यान्सर अस्पताल
Chitwan, Oct 16:
A study committee has been formed to identify problems and recommend reforms at the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital. The reform committee was established following the full formation of the hospital’s board of directors.
According to the hospital, the committee is coordinated by Dr. Dilliram Bhandari, a member of the hospital’s board of directors, with board members Dr. Shanti Bhurtel and Isha Pradhan serving as members.
Greehinarayan Mahato, the hospital’s information officer, stated that from April 19 to October 10, the position of executive director was filled on an acting basis, during which time the board of directors could also not achieve full composition. Prof. Dr. Yogendra Prasad Singh was appointed as the chairman on June 29, while the board members were selected only on September 22.
Newly appointed Executive Director Dr. Vijayachandra Acharya stated that due to the failure to pass the current fiscal year’s policy and program, the hospital’s new procurement processes, professional development of doctors and staff, and payment of increased salaries have been stalled. As a result, service recipients, doctors, and staff have been directly affected. “We have not been able to provide some of the materials that patients are supposed to receive free of cost, forcing patients to purchase them on their own,” he said, adding that preparations are underway to pass the policy, program, and budget.
Dr. Acharya mentioned that the study committee formed for hospital reforms is currently conducting its assessment, and further reform initiatives will follow once the study is submitted. “Currently, we are working diligently from early morning until late at night, and visible changes will be experienced within a few days,” he said.
When Dr. Acharya first assumed office as executive director in April 2017, the hospital was facing severe challenges, to the extent that the local administration had to intervene prior to his appointment. He expressed his commitment to resolving the issues currently surfacing.
Patients from across all districts of Nepal as well as from India visit this hospital for treatment. Because any problems at the hospital directly impact patients, the situation draws significant attention from stakeholders.
— RSS/Unified Nepal
