Bir Hospital, established in 1889 as Nepal's first modern healthcare facility, has completed a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade costing over three billion rupees. The renovation includes a state-of-the-art intensive care unit with 60 beds, advanced diagnostic laboratories, and a dedicated trauma center equipped to handle mass casualty events.

Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet inaugurated the upgraded facilities, calling it a milestone in Nepal's public healthcare history. The new trauma center features the country's first fully integrated emergency response system with helicopter landing capabilities on the hospital roof.

The upgrade was funded through a combination of government allocation and development partner contributions, with the Asian Development Bank providing nearly 40 percent of the total cost. Construction took three years and was completed six months behind the original schedule due to pandemic-related disruptions.

Hospital administrators expect the expanded capacity to serve an additional 500 patients daily, significantly reducing the burden on other hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley. Plans are already underway for similar upgrades at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Patan Hospital.