Dadeldhura, April 2: Dadeldhura Hospital has received four specialist doctors after the Ministry of Health reassigned them to their designated posts, restoring much-needed specialist services at the facility.
The move is part of a government initiative to return doctors who had been serving in more accessible areas through deputation or personal influence back to their original workplaces. As a result, four specialists assigned to Dadeldhura Hospital have been recalled from deputation.
Dadeldhura Hospital, the only federal government hospital in Sudurpashchim Province, had been facing a shortage of specialist doctors. This had forced many poor and marginalised patients from hilly and rural areas to seek costly treatment elsewhere.
Following a decision by Minister for Health and Population Nisha Mehta, 14 ninth- and tenth-level specialist doctors were, in the first phase, sent back to their original postings to ensure a more balanced distribution of healthcare services. The four specialists assigned to Dadeldhura were included in this group.
The returning doctors are ninth-level physician Dr Santosh Kumar Gupta, consultant dermatologist Dr Misanta Sharma, consultant surgeon Dr Nabin Chandra Bhatt, and senior consultant radiologist Dr Suyogya Wagle. They had previously been working on deputation in various offices, including those of the provincial Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, as well as in other health institutions.
According to the ministry, the decision aims to address the shortage of specialist doctors in remote areas, discourage the long-standing trend of doctors preferring urban postings, and ensure access to quality healthcare services at the local level.
With their return, specialist services at Dadeldhura Hospital are expected to improve, enabling local residents to receive treatment more easily within their own district.
Surendra Awasthi, chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Dadeldhura, said that he and his party had taken special initiative on the issue. In a social media post, he stated that he, along with Member of the House of Representatives Aakriti Awasthi, had met the Health Minister a day earlier to highlight the hospital’s challenges. The decision to recall the doctors was made the following day.
“Our request made two days ago has been addressed,” he wrote. “Four doctors have been returned to Dadeldhura Hospital. Thank you, Minister Nisha Mehta.”
Lawmaker Aakriti Awasthi also confirmed that the recall followed her discussions with the Health Minister regarding the hospital’s problems. #nepal #health
