SATV Mar. 5, Kathmandu: The National Innovation Centre has successfully repaired 500 medical equipment that had been lying unused at federal hospitals.

On September 3 last year, Health Minister Pradip Paudel signed an agreement with the Centre’s chairperson Mahabir Pun to assess and repair damaged equipment at 17 federal hospitals. Since then, repairs have been completed at 10 hospitals. 

Out of 661 medical equipment evaluated, 500 have been repaired, according to the Centre’s engineer Umesh Kirati. 

The total cost of repairs amounted to Rs. 23,20,000, with the value of the equipment in Nepal estimated at Rs. 243 million.

Kirati emphasised that the repairs were completed at a significantly lower cost to the government. He added, “We are ready to repair equipment if other hospitals make a request.”

The repairs ranged from simple wire connections to more complex fixes requiring additional materials. Some equipment had been left unused due to a lack of wiring in certain hospitals, but all have now been fixed, he informed. 

Pun expressed his gratitude to Minister Paudel for his active involvement, sharing on social media, “Thanks to the Health Minister’s support, we have repaired around 500 pieces of equipment and saved millions of rupees.”

Minister Paudel also thanked the Centre, highlighting the ongoing collaboration. He noted that the repaired equipment has created a better environment for patient care. “Your support and collaboration will continue in our campaign to improve hospital services using local skills,” he wrote on social media.