Lack of Doctors, Funds Plague Residents at Old Age Home

By Sunny Shrestha

KATHMANDU, NEPAL -- Seventy-nine-year old Batuli Adhikari lives at The Pashupati Bridhashram, an old age home in Kathmandu, Nepal. For the last 20 years Adhikari has suffered from uterine and stomach ailments. After being hospitalized for six-months in Nuwakot, a district in central Nepal, she came to the Bridhashram because she could no longer afford her own medications. Her doctors say she needs another operation for her ulcer, but she has not been operated on yet.

Adhikari's head is full of grey hair and her face is wrinkled with the age. Today, she cannot easily move around on her own and can't speak properly because of a breathing problem. Despite her disabilities, she walks to the health centre at the elderly home, which is about 300 meters from their residence. "This is my fate, we cannot die as we wish and I am content with I have," says Adhikari of her life.

The Pashupati Bridhashram, the only government funded old age home in Nepal, was established in 1882. While elderly homes are uncommon in Nepal, the Bridhashram exceeded its capacity of 200 residents in 2005. As of March 2007, 236 elderly people, between the ages of 65 and 102, currently reside there. According to Bridhashram officials, 28 deaf, 29 physically disabled, eight mentally challenged and 16 sightless people live in the home. Apart from these physical irregularities, other health problems like indigestion, asthma, dysentery and joint problems are common among residents. But despite the array of health issues and the overcrowding at the Bridhashram, it is run by only 20 employees. Among which, only one nurse and no full time doctors are employed.

Bimala Subedi has been a nurse at the home for seven years. She says that she wants to serve as many people as possible and is disappointed she that she does not have the resources to do so. Nevertheless, the limited number of employees makes it difficult to adequately care for all of the patients. Subedi says the home also lacks proper of vehicles to transport the patients during urgent situations.

Nurse Subedi with two residents.

The Bridhashram, which is funded by the Nepali government and is overseen by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, provides medical assistance worth about 2 rupees, about $.03 USD, per person per day. "There is a budget of 240,000 rupees per year (about $3,428 USD) for medicines and health check-ups, which is inadequate. People who could have lived longer with medical care were deprived of it," Subedi said.

Recently, the Bridhashram proposed a new budget of 1,000,000, about $14,285 USD, to increase medical services. The government has not yet approved the new budget.

The dormitory at the Bridhashram. Overcrowding at the home has become a problem in recent years.

Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, the under secretary of the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare, says the Bridhashram is funded to the minimum requirements. He says the ministry cannot provide added facilities or care due to the lack of funds. "We can only provide the budget that the Finance Ministry already allocates for the Bridhashram. We are trying our best to provide medical experts," he says.

Although she is trained as a nurse, Subedi says she often has to perform doctor's duties. One local doctor, who works voluntarily, visits the elderly home three times a week. However, the home has not been able to allocate any budget for doctors or other medical specialists.

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