§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial, medical and administrative support Her Majesty's Government have given the former British military hospital, Dharan, Nepal, to enable it to continue as the major medical and surgical facilitity in east Nepal; and if he will make a statement on the future of the hospital and its staff.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn 1989, when the British Brigade of Ghurkas withdrew from the British military hospital, we agreed an aid package worth £3 million to assist with the transition to Nepali management. This package included assignments by a surgeon, an anaesthetist, a physician and a general manager. It also funded the construction of new wards, the provision of equipment and the training of local staff.
Long-term viability has been assured through the establishment at the hospital by the Government of Nepal 605W of the BP Koirala Institute for Health Sciences with the assistance of the Indian Government. The final commissioning of wards and transfer of equipment are expected to be complete by the end of this month.