Maya Daya Clinic, established in 1992 at the foot of Kopan Hill, is one way Kopan Monastery has been actively serving their local community. At that time of inception, there was very little medical care in the area, with doctors and pharmacies only accessible in Boudhanath, a forty-five-minute walk away. The aim of the clinic was to provide basic healthcare for the local population, with a doctor and nurse available three days a week and regular access to medical supplies at the clinic’s pharmacy. In the years since then, the clinic has benefited thousands of local patients as well as the monks and nuns of Kopan and of other monasteries.

With the need for basic medical care in the local area now well covered by other clinics and pharmacies, Maya Daya Clinic, in cooperation with Karuna Hospital, is taking the next step in its development. The clinic will serve the local community by providing free dialysis to those with chronic kidney disease in a comfortable environment. This is an incredible achievement for Kopan Monastery to be able to offer support to the local community in this way. 

With the slogan of “Compassionate care to all beings suffering from ailments,” Karuna Hospital started its service in 2019 in Kathmandu with a twenty-four bed capacity. In a short amount of time, the hospital has provided many specialty services in the areas of neurology and neurological surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, child and maternity care, urology and nephrology, plastic surgery, and orthopedics. The hospital, which is operating at international standards, is well equipped to handle most serious cases with a dedicated team of specialist doctors and trained paramedical staff. The Maya Daya Clinic is now part of the extension of Karuna Hospital and is able to benefit from this excellent modern facility. 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. CKD is a newly recognized public health problem in Nepal. The estimated prevalence of CKD is around ten percent in urban areas of Nepal. This number is expected to increase as the major contributing causes for CKD, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are increasing at an alarming rate across the country. It is estimated that almost 2,900 Nepalese develop end stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) every year. Dialysis is part of RRT and is essential for patients suffering from ESRD. The cost of supporting the treatment of ESRD patients undergoing dialysis is 2,500 NPR (about US$21) per session, which can add up to 15,000 NPR to 20,000 NPR per month (about US$123 to US$165).

With more than twenty percent of the population of Nepal falling below the poverty line, it is impossible for many to afford this expensive though lifesaving treatment. In time, thanks to the leadership of Kopan monk Ven. Sangye Tenzin, this new clinic will be entirely free for patients with the help of government funding for treatments.