Our correspondent in Pokhara Manoj Adhikari said a hospital operated by Unity Life International in Pokhara suffered a loss of about Rs 10 million in the five months since its commencement. [break]
Janardan Subedi, chief accountant at Unity Life Hospital, said the hospital posted the loss because of the free treatment provided to Unity´s members.
“We have recorded an income of hardly one million rupees since the establishment of the 100-bed hospital whereas operating costs have crossed over two million per month,” said Subedi.
The hospital has been providing its services daily to 40 to 50 patients, with its 12 doctors. The hospital has to pay at least Rs 1.6 million as salaries to a staff of about 100 and utility expenses hover around Rs 0.6 million.
The hospital is operating with a deficit of doctors since at least 20 doctors are necessary to provide a proper service, given the flow of patients.
“However, we are earning hardly Rs 200,000 per month, which is far lower than the operating cost,” added Subedi.
Hospital registered in personal name
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer of Kaski Shambhu Koirala has disclosed that the hospital has been registered in the name of Unity´s central president Kashi Gurung. Unity has been claiming publicly that the hospital has been registered under an institutional name.
The hospital, located at Simal Chaur of Pokhara-6, spreads over of 4 ropani 3 ana of land. “It is surprising that the hospital, which was widely publicized to have opened to serve the people, turns out to have been registered in the name of an individual,” said Koirala.
Over 12 complaints have been registered against Unity at the District Administration Office.
Unity has been operating over 16 hospitals, and most of whom are not meeting minimum standards.
Similarly, our correspondent Dilip Paudel in Baglung said the Unity hospital there has been operating at a monthly loss of Rs 165,000.
According to acting administrator of the hospital Ram Krishna Shrestha, the 15-bed hospital has an operating cost of Rs 265,000 per month.
Similarly, our correspondent in Lahan Mithilesh Yadav stated that ongoing construction work on Unity Hospital in Lahan has been suspended and its signboard also removed amid reports of illegal operations by Unity. According to a source, Unity has already collected Rs 100 million from its over 7,000 members in Siraha district.
Republica correspondent in Dhangadhi Dil Bahadur Chhatyal said a department store operated by Unity in Dhangadhi has goods worth one million rupees. Bank of Asia, Dhangadhi branch said Unity has a deposit of only Rs 200,000.
Unity recently transferred one million from NIC Bank, leaving its account without any deposit. Around 10,000 people in the Far Western Region have received Unity membership.
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