medical care in Nepal

Li - France Tibet – stayed home last week. She was really tired and her sinus kept her inside instead of enjoying the nice hills behind Bouddhanath. So together we sent to the Shechen Clinic which belongs to the monastery of the same name. Mathieu Ricard, famous French Lama, stays there. Li went for the GP and I go for some inquiries for the dentist, thinking about an appointment. But I was asked to go see the dentist immediately for a check up.

Three days ago my English filling, a year old, went away in pieces leaving an uncomfortable big hole in my tooth.

To see clearer they made a radio and then took another patient. While the dentist was still a Nepali woman she asked for me and told the damages, that if I have time she could refill the hole this same morning after the lady. And that was it. An hour after this I had a new filling for 900 NRs, so less than ₤10 or us$ 5.

Shechen Clinic also hosts the elderly and helps the street children. It manages to get good equipment and to respect the community so all kind of people come there from the Nepali to the tourist. Cheap services mean they need other means. As an example a Guest-House is set in the walls of the monastery. So do you fancy fair-travels? But still they also need donations.

To go on with the Kathmandu medical system, I had the next day to go back to Dr Tsering whose medicine did prevent my stomach to go worse, but not better. He was waiting calmly behind his desk, reading book about Dharma, the teaching of the Buddha. He wondered why things stayed still and prescribed stronger pills. You have to pay only for the new medicine said he. The pills cost 50 Nrs, the pharmacist gave me only what was needed.

So far from the philosophy in the West…

PS: This day (31 March) 268  Tibetan protesters were arrested, That was in front of the Chinese Embassy so the reason of the oplice taken action was that mass gathering are forbidden around the Royal Palace nearby !