Nepalgunj, Sept 6: Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj has announced that it will now provide Alteplase injections free of cost to patients with symptoms of stroke.
According to Dr Rajan Pandey, Chief Consultant Physician and Head of the Department of Medicine at the hospital, if stroke patients receive the injection within a critical window, their chances of recovery significantly increase.
“If patients can be brought to the hospital within four and a half hours of the onset of stroke symptoms, this injection can greatly improve their chances of recovery,” he added.
As a single vial of the injection costs approximately Rs 100,000, it is not easily affordable for many. Therefore, the hospital’s decision to offer it free of charge is expected to benefit marginalized and economically disadvantaged families.
In the first phase, the hospital has received 20 vials of the injection, which will be enough to treat around seven patients, according to Dr Nirajan Subedi, Chief Medical Superintendent of Bheri Hospital.
Although this injection is already being provided free of cost at other government hospitals such as those in Bharatpur and Kathmandu, it had not been available at Bheri Hospital until now.
This development follows the recent issuance of new guidelines by the Ministry of Health for the treatment and management of stroke patients. The primary objective of the guidelines is to ensure timely and quality care for stroke patients, while also emphasizing public awareness factor as well.
