Heatwave, holidays push up patient load at Bardiya Hospital

Bardiya Hospital is struggling to cope with a significant surge in patients, with daily outpatient visits climbing from around 300 to over 500. Doctors attribute the rise to the ongoing summer heatwave and hot winds, which are causing an increase in illnesses like fever, diarrhea, stomach aches, and high blood pressure. The situation is further complicated by extended public holidays, during which OPD services are closed, placing immense pressure on the hospital's emergency ward. Health Assistant Ajit Chaudhary reported that the emergency unit treated 64 patients in a single 24-hour period, despite having only seven beds. Many patients, unaware of the holiday closures, travel to the hospital only to be turned away. Kamlesh Singh and Jit Bahadur Tharu, among others, expressed frustration after spending money on transportation only to return home without receiving treatment. Patients are now calling for the hospital to operate OPD services for at least a few hours on public holidays to address urgent medical needs.

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more than 500 patients have been visiting the hospital’s outpatient department daily, except on public holidays.