Elusive basic health services

The Himalayan Times

10 June 2014

Elusive basic health services

Albeit it was not surprising to read the news report “Bajura folks deprived of basic health care” (THT, 5 June, Page 3), it was definitely heart touching one considering the carelessness and irresponsible acts of the state in providing basic health services to its general public in many remote villages of the country. It is really sad to see the people walking two/three days for seeking minor health services in the absence of such services in their respective government owned health service outlets. What a shame they (people) have to still believe in shamans and witch doctors? The regular absence of health workers and lack of medicines in those service outlets have been the major setbacks.

In fact, the health delivery system of Nepal is one of the best organizational structures in the SAARC region. The government has the responsibility of supplying medicine in the beginning of each fiscal year as per the necessity of these service outlets. Such medicines lasts hardly for six months and sometimes do not even reach to their destination. This has clearly undermined their rights to receive basic health services at their doorsteps. Unless the government and the concerned authorities become responsible and show their sincerity and commitment to provide basic health services, the general public in the remote rural areas will continue to suffer.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu