The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with ventilator set up at Beni Hospital in Myagdi has not come into use. They are exhausted due to a lack of skilled manpower to operate that important equipment that has been connected at the cost of millions.
The Gandaki state government has allocated Rs. 2million. A five-bed ICU room with two ventilators was set up at a cost of Rs 12.5 million.
Kham Thapa, a local, said that the patients had to be transported to Pokhara and Kathmandu at great expense as the equipment was not in use. "Helicopters have to be chartered to transport the patients to the ICU immediately," he said.
The hospital administration has stated that the ICU could not be run due to a lack of personnel and equipment. Chief of the hospital, Dr. Jitendra Kadel, said that at least four medical officers, ten staff nurses, two consultants, and four assistants would be required to operate the ICU room. "The current 50-bed capacity hospital has been forced to provide regular services to 24 staff nurses, including seven doctors and contract workers," he said. Basic services were given priority. There is no manpower for ICU. There is a concern that the equipment will break down without being able to operate it. ”
The ICU rooms with ventilators were constructed in all the 11 district hospitals under the Gandaki state government and the equipment was connected a year and a half ago. Bel Bahadur Katuwal, chairman of the hospital management committee, said that preparations have been made to use the ICU of the children's treatment room from the existing manpower as there is no additional manpower.
Arrangements have been made to supply oxygen to all the beds of the hospital through pipes from the plant. Preparations have been made to use the ICU of the pediatric ward as existing doctors and health workers can provide services.
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