Kathmandu, July 27: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has admitted that he could not perform at par people's aspirations due to inadequate experience when he took the prime ministerial berth for the first time.

"There was a dearth of experience while bracing for open and competitive politics as the first prime minister after Nepal was declared Republic. As I came from war background it took longer time to get along with peace", Chairperson Dahal said this addressing a programme organized here today to inform about heart surgery undertaken by making a small hole below the armpit.

The private sector hospitals have gained a big achievement in health service, he said, adding that the government hospitals should also follow suit.

Nepali Congress central member and former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat lauded private sector's quantum leap in health service sector in Nepal. "The big and complicated surgical cases are being handled in Nepal with the involvement of private sector in medical service", Dr Mahat added.

The life expectancy of Nepali people has increased to 71 from 51 years which attributes to the consistent hard work of health sector, Dr Mahat said, adding yet there are many strides to take ahead.

CPN-UML leader Lal Babu Pandit said the situation to go for foreign countries for treatment has ended.

A team headed by Hospital's senior cardiologist Dr Anil Bhattarai performed heart surgery on Shrish Karki, 16, of Jyamrung, Dhading. The Hospital had provided the surgery, said to be the first of its kind in Nepal, free of cost.

Hospital Chairperson Lok Bahadur Tondon informed that the team headed by Dr Bhattarai had performed open heart surgery of 17 patients during the last six months.

It may be noted that an open heart surgery costs Rs 400,000 in Nepal. RSS