By Birat Anupam, Itahari, March 1: BPKIHS, a famed teaching hospital at Dharan, is desperately waiting for Rs 260 million from the Ministry of Health and Population of the federal government, which was spent on health insurance schemes for patients.    

The BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) administration has said the lack of funds has hampered the health insurance scheme at the health facility which is the major destination both for locals of Province 1 and Madhesh Province.    

''BPKIHS has made it clear in writing to the Health Ministry that if the fund is not funnelled within Chaitra 15 (March 29), BPKIHS will cease the health insurance scheme,'' said Professor Doctor Gaurishankar Shah, the hospital director.    

He added, ''BPKIHS is itself in crisis in financial fronts which is added by pending health insurance dues from Health Ministry. The ministry owes us Rs 260 million 50 thousand which is not a small amount.'' Shah said BPKIHS has drawn the attention of the office of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Province 1, Health Ministry of Province 1, District Administration Office of Sunsari and Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City. Shah said more than 60 to 70 per cent of patients at the institution are from the government-funded health insurance schemes.    

''BPKIHS is the autonomous institution where more than 2300 staffs including doctors, nurses, teachers and other employees are working,'' Shah has said to the Blast Daily, published from Dharan. ''Government doesn't pay the salary of this staff and we are economically stressed to manage on own in lack of funding.''