Nepal Medical Council Team Inspects Dental Clinics in Kanchanpur, Finds Widespread Irregularities

Dhangadhi. A team from the Nepal Medical Council has conducted an emergency inspection of dental clinics operating in various places in Kanchanpur district. During the inspection, most of the clinics were found to be operating against standards, without doctors, and without registration in the health office.

The team of experts, led by Council member Dr. Ajay Kumar Shah, conducted an on-site inspection of clinics in Gulariya, Jhalari, and Mahendranagar from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday.

Serious negligence was found at Star Dental Clinic in Gulariya during the inspection. The clinic was not registered with the health office, and a person without any educational qualifications was found treating patients. As it was found that treatment was being done by oneself without a doctor, the clinic was shut down under police supervision.

Similarly, it is mentioned in the report that treatment was being carried out illegally in the absence of doctors at US Dental Clinic, New Shahi Panchakoshi Dental Clinic in Jhalari, and Shahi Panchakoshi Dental Clinic in Mahendranagar, and these clinics were not registered with public health.

At UN Dental Clinic in Mahendranagar, although the doctor's name was kept on paper, no doctor has been working for the past 2 years, and the clinic operator himself has been treating patients. Likewise, at New Bisht Dental Clinic, although the doctor was said to be on leave, the cleanliness and sterilization status of the clinic was found to be extremely poor. The team has strictly instructed not to treat without the presence of a doctor.

Upon receiving information about the arrival of the inspection team, some clinic operators shut down their clinics and became unreachable. The team stated that Mahakali Dental Hospital was closed from early morning, and the operator could not be contacted even when attempts were made. Similarly, Gulariya's Shahi Dental Clinic and Jhalari's Rajdevi Dental Clinic were also found closed during the inspection.

However, some clinics were found to be complying with legal procedures and health standards. At Himal Dental Clinic, Bimal Dental Clinic, and Hunainath Dental Clinic in Mahendranagar, doctors themselves were providing treatment, and the registration process was also complete. However, Rajdevi Dental Clinic (Mahendranagar) has been alerted to improve cleanliness and management of materials.

The inspection team included Nepal Medical Council member Dr. Ajay Kumar Shah, and experts Dr. Bikash Khadka and Dr. Amrit Raj Jaishi.

The team has directed that such illegal clinics, which are seriously tampering with public health, be brought under the legal framework and operated only after completing the procedures.