New Hospital Inaugurated in Rukumkot, Lumbini Province

Chetanaryan Acharya, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, inaugurated a new hospital building in Sisne Rural Municipality–5, Rukum East. The new hospital started offering services with 50 beds, providing internal medicine, laboratory, X-ray, dental care, physiotherapy, maternity, and neonatal services. Health Minister Khem Bahadur Sara highlighted that expanding healthcare in remote areas is a priority and that the shortage of specialist doctors will be gradually addressed. The inauguration took place on Chaitra 29 in Rukum East.

Residents of the mountainous district of Rukum East are expected to face less difficulty traveling long distances for medical treatment. With the completion and operation of the new hospital building in Sisne Rural Municipality–5, Rukumkot, service delivery is anticipated to improve. The hospital now operates with 50 beds. Previously, services were limited to a basic structure, but with the expansion of both infrastructure and services, the level of care has improved significantly.

Chief Minister Acharya stated that expanding healthcare in remote areas remains the provincial government’s top priority. He also noted efforts to improve human resource management and pledged a gradual solution to the shortage of specialist doctors. Health Minister Khem Bahadur Sara confirmed that policies to strengthen service delivery in remote locations are actively being implemented. According to him, while doctors were previously reluctant to work in these areas, the situation is gradually changing.

Built with an investment of around NPR 160 million, the hospital now offers internal services, laboratory, X-ray, dental treatments, physiotherapy, maternity, and neonatal care. Approximately 100 patients receive treatment daily. Dr. Krishna Kharel, medical superintendent of the hospital, stated that patient demand has increased alongside service expansion. “Compared to before, services have become more accessible, and patient trust has grown,” he said. Since the federal restructuring, Rukum East became a separate district where health services were previously limited and operated with minimal resources. With the completion of the building, construction of which began in 2078 BS, the district will now have access to basic and some specialized healthcare services locally.