Tara Chapagain Dube

Pokhara, June 9: Flow of patients in Gandaki Regional Hospital has been steadily declining after it was designated as a COVID – 19 dedicated hospital.
The State government had recently decided to designate Gandaki Regional Hospital, under the Pokhara Academy of Health Science, as a COVID-19 dedicated hospital.
Prior to the decision, around 1,500 patients used to visit the hospital every day. But lately the number has dropped to 200. The State government’s decision to designate the biggest and well-equipped hospital of the State as COVID-19 dedicated hospital has drawn criticisms from the locals and State assembly members.
The assembly members have demanded that a separate hospital be dedicated for the treatment of virus infected patients. “Treating COVID-19 patients and other patients in the same hospital could put health of people at risk. There is a high chance of an outbreak in the region too,” they said.
Hospital Director Arjun Acharya said that the hospital had been seeing fewer patients in its OPD after it was turned into a COVID-19hospital.
“Maybe people are afraid of getting infected. However, there is no reason to panic. The isolation ward has been set up in a separate building far from the main section. The gate of that building remains closed,” he said.
The hospital had been providing round-the-clock service, said Acharya.
Assuring people that the isolation and pre-isolation wards were operated with stringent safety measures in place, Acharya said all necessary precautions had been taken to safely operate general health services.
The suspected COVID-19 patients would not be allowed to enter other sections of the hospital, he stressed.
“There are two isolation wards ‘1’ and ‘2’ where the COVID-19 patients will be placed based on their symptoms. We will never compromise on our service. So there is no need to panic,” said Acharya.
There are altogether 600 medical experts and staff working in the hospital. Acharya said 250 beds of the 500-bed hospital had been separated for coronavirus patients.
The hospital has been treating patients from all 11 districts of the State as well as those from Bagmati and State 5.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Gandaki State Prithvi Subba Gurung has also asked people to visit the hospital without any fear. “There is no need to panic just because the hospital is designated as COVID-19 dedicated hospital.”
Though the hospital and dedicated hospital share the same premises, both are located in separate buildings, he said.