Pokhara Health Science Institute PICU Service Launched
7th January 2026, Kathmandu
The Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (PoAHS) has officially inaugurated its specialized Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara. This development marks a significant leap forward in the healthcare infrastructure of Gandaki Province, providing a much-needed lifeline for critically ill children who previously had to be referred to the capital or private facilities. Established within a recently retrofitted building of the institute, the new PICU is designed to deliver world-class intensive care to children in life-threatening conditions.
Pokhara Health Science Institute PICU
Dr. Ramchandra Bastola, Head of the Department of Pediatrics, has spearheaded this initiative, emphasizing that the lack of a dedicated PICU was a major gap in the region’s tertiary care. With the commencement of this service, children suffering from acute respiratory failure, severe infections, or complex post-surgical issues can now receive specialized monitoring and treatment locally.
Understanding the Critical Role of a PICU
A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit differs significantly from general pediatric wards. It is a specialized area of the hospital where children with the highest level of medical needs are treated. The primary objective of the Pokhara Health Science Institute PICU is to provide constant monitoring of vital signs and deliver advanced therapies that are only possible in a controlled, high-tech environment.
Key functions of this specialized unit include:
Continuous Monitoring: Real-time tracking of heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels using advanced cardiac and pulse oximetry monitors.
Life Support Systems: Providing mechanical ventilation for children who cannot breathe on their own and advanced life support for those with multi-organ failure.
Specialized Medication Delivery: The use of infusion pumps to deliver precise dosages of potent medications like epinephrine or dopamine, which require strict medical supervision.
Post-Surgical Recovery: Managing stable recovery for children after complex surgeries, particularly neurological or thoracic procedures.
Capacity, Infrastructure, and Advanced Equipment
The newly operational PICU at PoAHS features an eight-bed capacity, strategically divided to cater to the specific needs of different pediatric age groups. This categorization ensures that infants and older children receive age-appropriate clinical care and specialized equipment.
The unit’s infrastructure includes:
Older Children Segment: Seven beds are specifically allocated for children older than two months.
Infant Segment: One bed is dedicated solely to infants below the age of two months, bridging the gap between neonatal and general pediatric care.
High-Tech Equipment: The unit is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, including high-frequency ventilators, BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machines, and specialized infusion systems.
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These facilities allow the medical team to manage complex conditions such as severe pneumonia, sepsis, traumatic injuries, and congenital heart diseases that were previously difficult to treat at the regional level.
Dedicated Medical Team and Specialized Manpower
The success of a PICU depends as much on human expertise as it does on technology. The Pokhara Health Science Institute has deployed a highly trained, multidisciplinary team to ensure 24-hour coverage and high-quality patient care. This dedicated workforce is trained in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and critical care protocols.
The team composition for the new PICU includes:
1 Pediatric Specialist (Pediatric Intensivist)
11 Medical Doctors
13 Trained Staff Nurses
3 Support Staff Members
By maintaining a high nurse-to-patient ratio, the unit ensures that every child receives the meticulous attention required during critical phases of illness. The staff’s specialized training allows for swift decision-making and rapid intervention, which is often the difference between life and death in pediatric emergencies.
Ending the Era of Healthcare Referrals in Western Nepal
For years, the Western Regional Hospital faced challenges in managing critical pediatric cases due to a shortage of manpower and advanced equipment. This often resulted in “referral fatigue,” where families were forced to transport their critically ill children to Kathmandu or across the border to India, often at great financial and physical risk.
Dr. Bastola highlighted that the successful operation of this fully functional PICU effectively ends this cycle of referrals. By providing a tertiary level of care within Pokhara, the institute is making healthcare more accessible and affordable for the people of Gandaki and neighboring provinces. This regional self-sufficiency is a major step toward achieving equitable healthcare distribution in Nepal.
Strict Access Control and Infection Prevention
Critically ill children are highly susceptible to secondary infections. To mitigate this risk, the Pokhara Health Science Institute PICU follows international standards of infection control. The unit is a restricted-access zone, where entry is limited to authorized medical personnel and the patient. Visitors are strictly regulated, and sterile protocols are maintained at all times. This controlled environment is essential for the recovery of children whose immune systems are already compromised by severe illness.
Conclusion
The launch of the PICU at the Pokhara Health Science Institute is more than just an infrastructural upgrade; it is a commitment to the survival and well-being of the next generation in western Nepal. By combining advanced medical technology with a dedicated team of specialists, the institute has created a center of excellence that will serve as a model for regional hospitals nationwide. This development ensures that even in the most critical moments, families in the western region can find hope and healing close to home.
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