E-Kantipur

BIRATNAGAR, MAR 06 -

Once known as the industrial hub, Biratnagar is seeing a new wave of investment in the service sector. With manufacturing sector on the wane, the health sector is attracting huge investments in the city.

Lately, around Rs 3 billion has been invested in the health sector in Biratnagar alone. New hospitals are being established and old ones are also pouring money for service expansion.

Given the pathetic condition of the government hospital in terms service delivery, the private sector has been flourishing.

Nobel Medical College of Kanchanbari has already invested around Rs 1.32 billion. “We invested around Rs 700 million this year alone,” said Sunil Sharma, director of the college. “We plan to expand our capacity to 721 beds from the current 521 within a month.”

Sharma added that investments are being made in the sector due to increased population and increased health awareness among people. About six months ago, a 16-bed Green Cross Hospital and Research Centre was established at Rangeli Road with an investment of Rs 5 million. Its director Sudhir Regmi said they were now planning to operate nursing classes too.

Similarly, with an investment of Rs 5 million, a group of doctors recently opened 15-bed Golden Hospital. Golden Hospital Director Dr. Shyam Rauniyar said they opened the hospital keeping inj mind the increased pressure of patients in hospitals in the city.

Another hospital Lifeguard has also increased its investment this year. It is soon shifting to its own building at Bargachhi. Lifeguard Director Dr. Kailash Shrestha said they invested around Rs 80 million for the construction of the new building. Shrestha added that they are also expanding the capacity to 100 beds from the current 50 beds.

The increased investment in the health sector is due to demand and necessity, according to Shrestha. This has reversed the trend of Nepalis going to Indian cities for treatment. “A huge number of Indians come to Biratnagar for treatment nowadays,” he said.

Stakeholders say that the private sector is investing heavily in the health sector due to poor service delivery of government hospital. The 350-bed Koshi Zonal Hospital here has not been able to meet the current demand.

Birat hospital, another private hospital here has 200 beds. Its director Dr. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said they invested around Rs 200 million in the hospital over the last two years. “We have invested a total of over Rs 300 million so far,” said Karki.

He added that the hospital will make more investments in equipment and technologies.

Likewise, Birat Eye Hospital has also been opened with an investment of Rs 700 million. Millions of rupees have been invested in the Neuro Hospital. There are hundreds of clinics around the city.

Huge investments have been made in Saptakoshi Nurshing Home and Purbanchal hospital, among others.

Posted on: 2011-03-06 09:18

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