KATHMANDU, July 14: Bhatbhateni Supermarket has handed over a newly constructed building worth Rs 95 million to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, marking the company’s second major donation to the hospital.
The new Extended Health Services (EHS) building was officially inaugurated on Monday by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The building, constructed within the hospital premises, was funded and built by Bhatbhateni Supermarket under the leadership of its Managing Director Min Bahadur Gurung. The facility was formally handed over to Hospital Director Dr Subash Acharya.
This is the second building Gurung has contributed to the hospital. In 2011, he donated an emergency ward building in memory of his late parents, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 130 million. With the new facility, Gurung’s total contribution to the hospital amounts to approximately Rs 235 million.
Speaking at the event, Gurung shared that his philanthropic efforts stem from the values instilled by his late mother and a spiritual mentor, both of whom emphasized that wealth is meant to be shared. He said he finds deep satisfaction in giving back to society and expressed readiness to continue supporting the hospital in the future.
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The newly donated building will house an expanded pharmacy and other extended health services, according to hospital officials. Although construction of the building was completed four months ago, it was officially handed over on the hospital’s 43rd anniversary.
Prime Minister Oli, the chief guest at the handover event, praised Gurung for using his wealth for public welfare, noting the contrast between individuals who squander earnings in casinos and those who invest in social good. He lauded Gurung’s broader contributions not just in healthcare but also in the education sector.
Dr Acharya expressed gratitude to both the Prime Minister and Bhatbhateni Supermarket for their support, highlighting the importance of such partnerships in improving public healthcare services.
Beyond the Teaching Hospital, Gurung’s philanthropic footprint spans a range of sectors. He has provided substantial financial support to a children's hospital under construction in Budhanilkantha, funded school construction in Khotang, and contributed Rs 10 million each to the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the 2015 earthquake. Additionally, he has donated Rs 2.5 million to each of the seven provinces during the health crisis.
In response to the 2021 floods and landslides, Gurung donated Rs 11.1 million in relief, and has supported low-cost food distribution post-earthquake and temple restoration in India. Most recently, he pledged full educational sponsorship for a girl who had worked at a brick kiln and passed her SEE exams, committing to fund her education through an MBBS degree.
Gurung’s long-standing commitment to public service continues to inspire many in the private sector, as his charitable work continues to have a visible impact on communities across Nepal.
