TACOMA, Washington — Although the poverty rate decreased in Nepal through the 2010s, many families are still impoverished or live in danger of falling into extreme poverty. As such, the Nepalese people are in need of hospitals that provide affordable healthcare. There are four notable low-cost hospitals in Nepal: Gunjaman Singh Hospital, Chaurjahari Hospital Rukum, Siddhi Memorial Hospital and Lamjung District Community Hospital. Through these facilities, numerous Nepalis in dire circumstances have the opportunity to receive the essential medical care that they need.
Gunjaman Singh Hospital
The first of the notable low-cost hospitals in Nepal is Gunjaman Singh Hospital (GSH), located in Pithuwa, Chitwan. Dedicated to serving the residents of Chitwan and the nearby district of Makwanpur, marginalized groups in both regions are able to receive necessary healthcare from this facility at low to no cost. Not only do they receive immediate medical care, but the patients also receive preventative and rehabilitative care. Additionally, the hospital works with various government leaders and supporters to develop programs and campaigns to reach populations in additional districts. Recently, GSH gained access to important medical technology, such as an X-ray and Cautery machine, to provide higher-quality care. The facility also has begun to address the issues of safe medical waste management and sustainable energy implementation.
Chaurjahari Hospital Rukum
In the center of the Rukum, Jajarkot, Salyan districts of Nepal, Chaurjahari Hospital Rukum (CHR) is another facility working to provide affordable healthcare — this time to the people of mid-western Nepal. In addition to a physical lack of healthcare, much of the populous has an aversion to modern medicine. Many people in Rukum still flock to traditional healers to alleviate various illnesses. In response, CHR has implemented outreach and education initiatives to phase out skepticism. The facility not only heals the sick — it strives to encourage locals to come and receive the care they need.
Siddhi Memorial Hospital
Siddhi Memorial Hospital (SMH) was initially established as Siddhi Memorial Health Service Center in 1993. Located in Barahisthan, Bhaktapur, SMH developed into a multi-story hospital that provides services such as emergency care, PICU/NICU and women and children’s primary care. SMH has a laboratory, a gynecological operation theater and an ultrasound machine to provide their patients with the most modern health technology available. Like the other low-cost hospitals in Nepal, SMH focuses on providing affordable or free medical services to marginalized women and children in the region. Supported by national and international benefactors, SMH currently has over a hundred workers who care for numerous children and women of the region.
Lamjung District Community Hospital
Among the many low-cost hospitals in Nepal, Lamjung District Community Hospital (LDCH) is notable because it is the first health establishment in which the government entrusted an NGO to manage its operations. LDCH provides advanced medical services at a low cost and treats underprivileged patients for free. Many international organizations have recognized the hospital due to its generous work. In 2003, The World Bank dubbed LDCH as a “Model District Hospital.” Furthermore, in recognition of the facility’s great efforts, the International Project Management Association accoladed the facility in 2015 as a bronze winner in the community service category.
The Care People Deserve
These four hospitals have become crucial parts of the healthcare infrastructure of their respective regions. These hospitals fill the need of their communities by providing modern healthcare that could otherwise be very expensive and inaccessible to the marginalized populations living in rural areas. Through the presence of these hospitals in Nepal, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis who would not have been able to receive medical care otherwise have been treated with the care they deserve.
– San Sung Kim
Photo: Flickr