The Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital in Shankharapur Municipality, Kathmandu, is set to become a specialized burn treatment center, as announced by Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel. Speaking at a program on Thursday to welcome the hospital’s new director, Albert Benzin, Minister Paudel emphasized the government’s focus on prioritizing burn care.
“Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital is already specialized in burn treatment, and efforts are underway to include it among the eight newly announced burn treatment hospitals across the country,” said Minister Paudel. He added that the hospital could also provide training for doctors and nurses from other institutions, further strengthening Nepal’s burn care capabilities.
The hospital, established in 2054 BS with support from the German government and run by the Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust, has been a pioneer in burn care in Nepal. Since its inception, it has treated over 483,022 patients and performed 32,864 burn-related surgeries. Remarkably, 15,375 of these patients received treatment free of cost.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala recounted the challenges faced in opening hospitals in remote areas and noted the lack of burn treatment facilities in Nepal when the hospital was founded. Similarly, Nepali Congress leader and parliamentarian Dr. Chandra Bhandari highlighted the pressing need for more burn treatment hospitals nationwide.
Mayor of Shankharapur Municipality Ramesh Napit emphasized the historical significance of the hospital, noting that it remains Nepal’s oldest burn treatment facility.
Hospital Director Santosh Bikram Bhandari expressed gratitude for the continued support from the German government and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to advancing burn care and training in Nepal.
29th Nov 2024
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