Burn Wards in Nepal Lack Necessary Equipment and Staff

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chief whip Khushbu Oli has drawn the government’s attention to the country’s healthcare system, burn treatment facilities, and the management of injured protesters.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, MP Oli commented that the government’s directives are mere publicity stunts and far from ground reality.

Chief Whip Oli questioned the authenticity of the Prime Minister’s Office’s directive to fully operate ‘burn wards’ in various hospitals, citing the lack of formal directives from concerned agencies.

She challenged the government to clarify if a decision had been made and, if not, to deny it.

MP Oli suggested turning the Kirtipur Burn Hospital into a ‘National Training Center’ and providing special burn management training to healthcare workers across the country for at least a year or a month.

She also demanded the establishment of a national mechanism to refer burn patients from across the country to Kirtipur for free and immediate treatment until the provincial hospitals become capable.

Oli urged the government to make available the allocated Rs 8 crore for the Kirtipur hospital, which has been held up since the previous government.

‘Although 18 hospitals in Nepal have burn wards, having buildings and beds alone does not guarantee treatment. A burn ward without skilled manpower, plastic surgeons, trained nurses, and necessary equipment cannot save a patient’s life,’ she said.

Referring to the on-site inspection of the Kirtipur Burn Hospital and discussions with stakeholders, Oli pointed out that Nepal needs to improve its overall ‘burn treatment system,’ not just the wards.