Jajarkot. The 50-bedded Khalanga Hospital at the district quarters does not have an ambulance. Patients are brought to and taken away from the hospital in ‘doko’, a conical basket made from bamboo strips. The vehicle has remained unrepaired for the past two years.

The hospital ambulance is at a garage in Nepalgunj where it had been taken to change the tires and carry some repairs. The hospital could not make financial arrangement for the repair cost, thus, leaving the vehicle at the garage without being repaired, driver Ramesh Kumar Shah shared. The driver is, however, receiving his monthly pay.

After the ambulance of the Red Cross also had a technical trouble, the whole district has been devoid of ambulance. People have been facing problems to take the patients to hospital due to the lack of ambulance.

They rely on bamboo basket and stretcher to bring the patients to the hospital. If the patients are referred to outer districts, they are compelled to reserve vehicles at exorbitant prices to take the patients to better health facilities outside the district.

Acting manager of Health Service Office Dr Sunil Pun informed National News Service (RSS) that the ambulance service has not been made regular after maintenance for not being able to manage Rs 150,000.

However, Dharmasheela Basnet, chair of hospital development committee, informed that they have demanded a new ambulance from the Ministry of Social Development as the ambulance was too old to be repaired and reused..