Taplejung, January 25
With the pharmacy of Taplejung district hospital closed, service-seekers are bearing the brunt. Pharmacist Resa Lawati is on leave for five days. In the absence of her replacement, the pharmacy has shut its doors to service-seekers.
The pharmacy run by Hospital Development Committee used to sell drugs to patients visiting the hospital on discount. Its closure has forced service-seekers to buy medicines from private clinics, often at higher rates.
Harka Limbu, a local, says the hospital can hire more employees to run the pharmacy as it earns a tidy profit by collecting service charge from patients and by selling drugs. Because of indifference on the part of the development committee, service-seekers have been facing hardships, he laments. The pharmacy provides 10 per cent discount on all types of drugs.
This is not the first time the pharmacy has shut for want of staff. Local people accuse the development committee of not providing adequate services to patients even after collecting money in the name of different services.
Kesar Myangbo, committee chair, says he will not take initiatives for hiring one more pharmacist after consulting District Health Office and doctors working at the hospital.
