introduction

Dhulikhel Hospital was established in 1996 as a result of a joint initiative by Dhulikhel Health Service Association, Dhulikhel Municipality and NepaliMed. It is providing affordable and quality health care for all.  Since that time it has become a preferred choice for health care services and medical education in the country. This hospital is involved in a range of activities from basic community health programmes at the grass roots level to modern university teaching hospital with basic research facilities.

Outpatient and inpatient services

Internal Medicine (comprising Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology & Nephrology); General Surgery; Urosurgery; Paediatrics; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Orthopaedics; Dermatology, Venereology and Cosmetology; Otorhinolaryngology; Ophthalmology; Psychiatry; Dental; Family Planning; Immunization.

Investigative and Therapeutic services

Laboratory (Histopathology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Haematology, Parasitology); Radiology; Ultrasonography and Colour Doppler; Cardiac investigations (Electrocardiography, Echocardiography and Colour Doppler, Treadmill Test (Exercise ECG), Holter (Ambulatory ECG), Ambulatory Blood Pressure);  Endoscopy (Upper Gastroendoscopy, Colonoscopy, Bronchoscopy, ERCP); CT Scan; Arthroscopy; Pharmacy; Physiotherapy.

Digital Radiography will start next year

Inpatient facilities

General ward, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

In the last fiscal year, the hospital treated 95,795 outpatients and 8,853 inpatients and conducted 9,865 operative procedures and 1,366 deliveries. A patient once registered for either outpatient or inpatient services need not be re-registered should they require services from other specialties. A patient who comes for a single problem can have the benefit of consultations by 2 to 3 different specialists with no further charge for registration. Hence it is fair to estimate that the true hospital activity of behalf of patients is three times higher that the recorded number of patients attending.

At present a total of 75 doctors, both specialists and medical officers, are providing services from this hospital. Another 43 doctors, nurses and allied health science staff from different specialties are in 3 years post graduate training or studying for PhDs either abroad or within Nepal. There are 170 nursing and paramedical staff working in different departments. Administrative and supporting staff number 73.

The outreach programme with its pre-existing 8 outreach centres has been extended into 2 more areas of Solukhumbu District (Kharikhola Primary Health Care Centre) and Kavre District (Kafledihi Eye Care Centre) without any duplication of services provided by the Government or other non-government organization. Public health programmes and microfinance programmes are being run through these outreach centres. The Aarogya Hospital at Naikap, Kathmandu, the Tamakoshi Cooperative Hospital at Ramechhap and Amp Pipal Hospital at Gorkha are also being supported in management and other aspects. Also regular health camps for general and speciality services are being provided in different remote situations where there is a need for these services.

Prompt and effective consultation and referral is a key challenge in all the outreach centres. In recognition of this initial work in the area of telemedicine has been started in the outreach centres.

Dhulikhel Hospital, in collaboration with Kathmandu University, is providing medical education at a variety of levels. The Dhulikhel Medical Institute has 5 different certificate level programmes in nursing, physiotherapy, laboratory, ophthalmology and general medicine. There is also a bachelor level programme in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) and an MBBS programme in this hospital. Both are run under the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences.  A total 86 certificate level students are graduating this year today’s ceremony. Also 14 BSc. Nursing and 45 MBBS graduates have passed this year.

To meet the need for the further development of human resources and physical infrastructure to enable us to provide both the required health services and conduct academic programmes, 43 medical doctors and other faculty members have been sent for postgraduate study this year. Similarly 7 nursing and paramedical staff members have been sent for bachelor level study. Fifteen faculty members and staff have gone for sub-specialty training in Europe and abroad. A few faculty members have presented their original scientific papers at national and international conferences.

The construction of the students hostel has been completed this year and is already in use. The construction of a new water tank (144,000 litre), in addition to old 70,000 litre tank, has significantly increased the total water storage capacity for the institution. Maintenance and extension of the biological wastewater treatment plant and construction of paths within the compound have been completed.  Extension work in Baluwa, Dapcha, and Bahunipati Primary Health Care Centres has been completed. A drinking water system has been constructed in Chhatre Deurali, Dhading. The construction of Solambhu Primary Health Care Centre is in its last phase and services have already been started there. Work continues on the new physiotherapy and pharmacy building at Dhulikhel Hospital itself

In these 12 years since its founding the hospital has received continuous support from the Government of Nepal, local people and institutions, NepaliMeds, Namaste Stifftung and other national and international organizations and individuals. The staff, faculty members, volunteers and students have played an important role in providing health care services to patients and academic teaching to the students. Today we are pleased to acknowledge that all of our friends and well wishers are equal partners. They share the congratulations for successes and they share the commitment to the future challenges to bring service to the people.