Butwal, Lumbini: The appointment of the Acting Medical Superintendent (MESU) at Lumbini Provincial Hospital has turned into a full-blown governance crisis, with the provincial government openly defying Supreme Court orders and federal ministry directives, raising concerns over political interference in Nepal’s health sector.

Dr. Indra Dhakal, a 10th-level orthopedic surgeon, continues to hold the post of Acting MESU at the Butwal-based hospital, despite a federal government directive on Ashad 9 (June 23) instructing him to report to Gajendra Narayan Hospital in Saptari—where his official posting is located. The federal Ministry of Health and Population had transferred Dr. Dhakal as per administrative needs, but the Lumbini provincial government, particularly the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, has backed his continuation, citing his "effective role in hospital infrastructure and management."

This defiance comes in the wake of multiple Supreme Court rulings—including one on Asad 14, 2081 BS and another on Bhadra 30—ordering the removal of Dr. Dhakal and the appointment of a qualified candidate with a public health or hospital management background. Despite these rulings, the provincial government has neither made the required legal amendments nor appointed a new superintendent, raising suspicions of deliberate delay.

The Supreme Court’s Implementation Directorate had even written to concerned authorities to enforce the rulings, but the Lumbini provincial government responded by reiterating support for Dr. Dhakal. The federal health ministry has warned that continued defiance constitutes indiscipline and may warrant departmental action under Section 39 of the Public Service Act, 2049 BS and Service Regulations, 2050 BS.

Prominent legal experts and local political leaders—including officials from the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN-Maoist Center—have condemned the politicization of a crucial healthcare post. "The hospital is becoming a political playground rather than a health service center," said Mahendra Bhusal, Butwal Municipal Chair of the CPN-Maoist Center. “Rules must be respected,” echoed NC’s Khelraj Pandey and UML’s Shobhakhar Pokharel.

The controversy has delayed essential administrative and financial functions within the hospital, affecting overall service delivery. Critics argue that such blatant disregard for federal authority and judicial rulings could set a dangerous precedent for Nepal’s federal governance structure.

Amid growing public outcry, stakeholders are urging the federal government to take swift action and reassert legal norms to prevent further erosion of institutional credibility in the country’s public health system.