Scrub Typhus Testing Kits Run Out at Sankhuwasabha District Hospital
The lack of testing kits has made it difficult for patients to get timely diagnoses, with private clinics charging between NPR 1,000 to 1,200 for a test
Samrat Timalsina
Kathmandu | Sankhuwasabha District Hospital has run out of scrub typhus testing kits, leaving patients unable to receive proper treatment. According to hospital spokesperson Shekhar Khatri, the hospital has been without the necessary kits since 5th September (Bhadra 21). As a result, for the past week, patients have been forced to seek testing at private hospitals and clinics, where they must pay high fees.
Since April, the district has seen 332 cases of scrub typhus and 101 cases of dengue. The lack of testing kits has made it difficult for patients to get timely diagnoses, with private clinics charging between NPR 1,000 to 1,200 for a test, which is free at the district hospital.
Khatri mentioned that the hospital has requested more kits from the Koshi Province Health Ministry, but none have been delivered so far. Despite repeated appeals, the hospital administration says they have received no response, leaving them with no choice but to refer patients to private facilities for testing.
