Dr. Keshav Shrestha, who was working as the Acting Medical Superintendent at Ramechhap District Hospital, has gone missing since this morning (Monday).
He went out of contact nearly two hours after posting a long and emotional status on his Facebook account. His mobile phone has been switched off. According to DSP Pradeep Kumar Singh, chief of the District Police Office, Ramechhap, search operations are underway.
After seeing his status, the Ramechhap police informed the Kathmandu police for assistance. Dr. Shrestha had recently been transferred to Hetauda from Ramechhap and had arrived in Kathmandu last Friday. His house is located in Gopikrishna, Chabahil, Kathmandu.
Attempts to contact his family have failed, as calls to their phones went unanswered, police reported.
In the status, Dr. Shrestha claimed he was transferred due to false allegations and political interference, and accused officials of corruption. He also mentioned facing injustice despite his efforts to improve hospital management. Dr. Shrestha was transferred at the end of Asar (mid-July) to the Bagmati Province Health Ministry in Hetauda.
In his lengthy post, he reflected on his struggles to become a doctor, his fight against corrupt practices in the healthcare system, and how those efforts led to mental stress and his eventual transfer. He blamed collusion between the health ministry, politicians, and hospital staff. He concluded by apologizing to his mother, wife, and daughter.
Here is his full translated status in English:
“Goodbye to Everyone”
Forgive me, my dear. My mother struggled so much to make me a doctor. I studied through hardship, starting with contract jobs, then with Nepal Police, and finally succeeded through Bagmati Province Public Service Commission.
I served for about 25 months, 18 of which I led the hospital as Acting Medical Superintendent. I worked day and night to make the hospital better and more efficient. After I became chief, staff who used to steal, cheat, and avoid responsibilities started fleeing.
Even though Dr. Gagan Adhikari had been transferred from Ramechhap Hospital, he kept targeting me through doctors and nurses from the same hospital. Still, I stood firm and worked hard to bring systems into place.
Because I refused to pay money demanded by Kedar Karki (from Ramechhap-08) and didn’t appoint a clerk he recommended, he plotted against me. I had previously issued warnings (show cause notices) to three doctors and two female doctors for negligence. Karki used those same people to level false allegations against me and got me transferred. When I asked a doctor why he wasn’t wearing his apron, he confronted me aggressively and presented his complaint in a morning conference. The same doctor brought Kedar Karki to my office the same day. Karki threatened me right in front of the hospital chairperson, saying, “If I don’t get you transferred in three days, don’t call me Kedar!”
According to him, I was supposed to run the hospital the way he said—pay for his hotel bills, appoint people he recommended during job ads, accept a staff who didn’t even sit in his office, show off his father’s political power, and make commission deals with labs outside the hospital. When I gave him repeated warnings, he retaliated by using those same employees to write a complaint letter against me, eventually forcing me to leave Ramechhap.
Tomorrow, if 4–5 temporary staff with past disciplinary action complain about their chief, will you transfer the next hospital chief too? I tried to voice my concerns, but no one listened, not the Minister of Health, not even the Secretary.
With 16 stitches on my body, and carrying my wife and 2-year-old daughter, I had to travel from Ramechhap to Kathmandu at 9 PM, reach at 4 AM, and then again head to Hetauda at 8 AM to report. The ministry that called the CDO to ensure the new chief’s reporting did nothing about my security. On 2082/02/28 , the investigation committee came at 3 PM, and by 4 PM I was handed my transfer letter. I was ordered to report to the ministry within 24 hours. Is this fair?
After reaching Hetauda, the Ministry’s Chief Administrative Officer, Kumar Pokhrel, treated me inhumanely—took away my vehicle, made me travel to Ramechhap again without even letting me formally take charge. I was left stranded in Hetauda. Though my transfer was to Hetauda Hospital, I was made to report to the ministry. I’ve suffered so much pain—I can no longer bear it or even think straight. I’ve lost my fight with life. I received no support or help from anywhere.
Dr. Narendra Jha and Rebati Thapa transferred me at the end of Asar due to financial dealings. I don’t believe I’ll get justice if I stay alive. Truth has lost, and I no longer want to sit by and watch it.
If I were alive and had spoken this truth, the ministry would’ve punished me—given me low scores in evaluation or silenced me because I’m a small employee. They would’ve tried to suppress my voice. I’ve mentally broken down. The “one-man army” I was once known as—today, I’ve lost.
Forgive me, Mom, Bhawana (my wife), and my daughter. The man who never gave up has finally lost. The one who always fought alone has been broken.
Thank you, Dr. Anil Karki, Badri Khadka sir, Honorable Uttam Joshi sir. You entrusted me with responsibility and I fulfilled it honestly to improve the hospital.
But now I’m being punished for no wrongdoing. I’m being forced to the point of suicide by those who caused me pain. They must be brought to justice, or my soul will never rest in peace.
I served in a remote area for two years and turned the hospital into one of the best—ranked third when it was a 15-bed facility, and now second in Bagmati Province with 50 beds. Instead of being awarded, I’m being punished.
I regret staying in Nepal trying to do something good. Those who know the truth—Chhabi sir (hospital admin), Basanta, Dor Bahadur sir—please speak up when the time comes. This is the truth. Many didn’t try to understand or even listen.
Please don’t politicize my death. But I request everyone to bring these wrongdoers to justice.
Again, forgive me, Mom, Bhawana, my daughter, my brother, sister-in-law, sister, and niece.
