11 Illegal Health Institutions Sealed in Sarlahi

Janakpurdham. Eleven illegally operating health institutions have been sealed in Malangwa, the headquarters of Sarlahi. The monitoring team took action after finding that these facilities were operating without registration and violating established standards.

The institutions were closed during a joint inspection conducted by the District Administration Office, the Treasury and Comptroller Office, the Health Office, the Municipality, the Provincial Hospital, and the Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection Office, Birgunj. According to Assistant Chief District Officer of Sarlahi, Hom Prasad Ghimire, strict measures have been taken against health institutions that were either unregistered or operating against regulations.

During the inspection, Sarlahi Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center, Thakur Sewa Upachar, Kalyan Health Care, Siddhi Ganapati Polyclinic, Prema Health Care Center, Anjali Polyclinic, Mahato Clinic-Neelam Pharmacy, Mali Medical, Jai Maa Sunaina Health Care, Life Line Medimare Polyclinic, and an unnamed ultrasound clinic were sealed.

Among the sealed institutions, four were found to be completely unregistered, while the operators of the remaining seven went out of contact upon learning of the inspection. The team stated that these facilities were sealed because the operators were absent and the premises were found closed.

According to the District Administration Office, 16 health institutions were inspected from Thursday morning until evening. Five of these, which were registered, have been given one week to complete renewal and other legal procedures.

Previously, during an inspection led by then-Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh in the last week of 2081 Phagun, most health institutions in Malangwa were found to be illegal, and 15 hospitals were ordered to close. However, complaints have been rising that such institutions have resumed operations.

Illegally operated clinics and hospitals face serious allegations of arbitrary treatment of patients, charging exorbitant fees, and employing unskilled personnel. The death of a teenage girl during treatment at an illegal Ayurvedic dispensary in Lalbandi-1, Nawalpur, a few months ago has also raised concerns.

Locals complain that such illegal health institutions are flourishing due to a lack of regular monitoring by local levels. It is reported that representatives have become hesitant to conduct inspections after past incidents of disputes and physical altercations with health workers.

Mumtaz Mikrani, Health Branch Chief of Lalbandi Municipality, admitted that illegal hospitals have been defying repeated directives. He stated that coordination among all parties is necessary to make monitoring effective.