This is the English translated version of the Facebook post by Keshav Bikram Khadka.
On the 15th of August around 12 o’clock in the night, I suddenly started having severe stomach pain and vomited 3-4 times. The doctor came around 1 o’clock. The doctor wrote to do x-ray, urine test, blood test, video x-ray on the parts. After all the tests were done, it was already 4 o’clock. I rushed to the OPD. Only one doctor was found. “I am also tired. Coming late is not my fault. I also came from Rautahat district, which is far away from you”. After requesting for several times, doctor agreed to diagnose 6-7 of us and started looking at the report. He returned home. He was taking medicine regularly. On the night of the 22nd, I started having stomach pain again. Took a pain-relieving injection at a nearby medical center, but the pain did not subside. In the morning, after taking an injection in the emergency department of Surkhet, the pain subsided. Because it was a Saturday, the OPD was closed. The next day, at 11:00, I saw the doctor at the OPD and the procedure was the same again. X-ray video X-ray CT scan Blood test Urine test Urine test 3 hours to do X-ray 1:30 minutes It will take 3 days to get the report of CT scan (if that is also to be done) The doctor who was seen at the OPD in the morning will never be seen to see the report after that 7 days have passed. In 7 days, 15-20 reports were made, 7-8 doctors looked at the reports, but they were not giving any conclusion about how to treat the disease, they were saying whatever they wanted, and I was in a situation where I could not live or die because of the daily pain. On this Friday, a doctor told me that you should have an operation soon. 70% of the kidney is already damaged. If it is not done soon, it may be completely damaged. I said that it has been 7 days since I came to the hospital. The doctor is the same doctor. The operation should be done quickly. He said that even if I do the operation, it is up to me when to do it. No, after hearing that, some people came out. They were talking that it takes a lot of power to do a big treatment in this hospital. One of them said that his own son should be a doctor. One of them said that he will do the operation on my sister. He sent me to wait for 1 month. Finally, I had to do the operation in a private hospital in Nepalgunj. At a glance, the Karnali Provincial Hospital, which looks like an international level, receives 5-600 patients daily. It is very clean and well equipped, and it is a pride of Karnali. It was heartwarming to hear that the hospital is the pride of Karnali. Now that the days of Karnali are back, the people of Karnali do not have to die for lack of treatment. I believed that, but what I saw and experienced in the last 7 days, it was not difficult to understand that the provincial hospital is a laboratory for some doctors, while Surkhet is a place where political leaders from districts outside Surkhet are beating. Yesterday, Friday, after coming out of Balchi, I got admitted to a private hospital in Kathmandu. Today, I underwent an operation and everything is fine now.
Lets summarize
1. Initial Symptoms and Evaluation:
- On the night of August 15th, Keshav experienced sudden, severe stomach pain and vomiting.
- The attending doctor ordered a series of diagnostic tests, including x-rays, urine tests, blood tests, and video x-rays, to identify the cause of his symptoms.
2. Prolonged Wait in the OPD:
- Keshav encountered a lengthy wait in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Karnali Pradesh Hospital.
- With only one doctor available and considering his distant travel from Rautahat district, the wait added to his discomfort.
3. Lack of Prompt Diagnosis:
- Despite a battery of tests, Keshav’s condition remained undiagnosed for seven days.
- Multiple doctors reviewed his case, but there was no consensus on the appropriate treatment plan.
4. Delayed Recommendation for Surgery:
- It wasn’t until the seventh day that a doctor advised surgery due to significant kidney damage.
- The doctor left the decision of when to undergo surgery up to Keshav, resulting in further delays.
5. Seeking Care at Private Hospitals:
- Frustrated by the lack of progress at Karnali Pradesh Hospital, Keshav sought treatment at a private hospital in Nepalgunj.
- Eventually, he was admitted to a private hospital in Kathmandu, where he underwent surgery.
6. Initial Impressions of Karnali Pradesh Hospital:
- Initially, Keshav had high hopes for Karnali Pradesh Hospital. It appeared to be well-equipped and maintained, and he believed it could serve as a source of pride for the region.
7. Criticisms and Doubts About the Hospital:
- Keshav’s experience led him to question the quality of care provided at the provincial hospital.
- He expressed concerns that some doctors might be using the hospital for experimentation, and that political influence from outside the Surkhet district could impact healthcare decisions in the region.
