China hands over medical equipment worth Rs 20 million to Civil Service Hospital

Kathmandu / March 7: The Government of the People’s Republic of China, through the Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation, has handed over advanced ophthalmic equipment worth approximately Rs 20 million to the Civil Servants Hospital.

A delegation led by former Vice Minister of the National Health Commission of China, Cui Li, officially handed over the equipment at a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Minbhawan today.The donated equipment includes ophthalmic microscopes, computers, scan machines, and cameras.

Speaking at the event, National Assembly Vice Chairperson Bimala Ghimire highlighted Nepal and China’s longstanding, multidimensional friendship dating back to ancient times. She emphasized Nepal’s commitment to fostering strong ties with China and expressed gratitude for China’s significant contributions to Nepal’s infrastructure, power development, and investment promotion.

Echoing this sentiment, Cui Li, who also serves as Vice President of the Good Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), remarked that Nepal-China relations-rooted in shared geography, history, and mutual goodwill-extend beyond governments to the people themselves. She further noted that the SCO is actively working to strengthen regional cooperation, supporting initiatives aligned with China’s policies and development programs.

Tam You Chung, Chairperson of the Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation, pledged continued support to enhance the capacity of Civil Servants Hospital, which operates with Chinese government assistance.

Prof. Dr. Bidhannidhi Poudel, Executive Director of the hospital, announced that the newly acquired ophthalmic equipment would enable the hospital to prioritize specialized eye care services. He elaborated that, in the first phase, the focus would be on providing advanced eye disease treatment, followed by training programs for doctors.

An agreement has also been signed to facilitate collaborative ophthalmic treatment and surgical procedures between Nepali and Chinese doctors following the training. The agreement was signed by Executive Director Poudel and Chairperson Tam You Chung.

The Civil Servants Hospital, originally constructed 16 years ago with Chinese support, is envisioned by the Chinese government as one of Asia’s leading healthcare facilities.

Currently, the 300-bed hospital treats an average of 1,000 patients daily. According to Executive Director Poudel, the hospital is experiencing a growing patient influx due to the quality of services provided. The hospital claims to offer high-quality medical care at lower fees compared to private-sector hospitals.

Senior ophthalmologist Dr. Pragya Basnet expressed confidence that state-of-the-art ophthalmic diagnostic equipment-provided through Chinese support-would significantly improve the hospital’s eye care services.