Sixty-five-year old Tara Prasad Poudel and his family from Sindhupalchok district was suffering from severe ear infection and came to Kathmandu for medical help.

Two pathologists, from two different private hospitals, diagnosed Poudel with cancer. They told his son, Bimal, there was no need for a second opinion. So the family made an expensive journey to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, where they learned that Poudel did not have cancer. If we had believed the Nepali doctors, my father would have died, says Bimal. Hari Govinda Shrestha, president of Association of Clinical Pathologists, Nepal says he sympathises and suggests the family take their case to the Medical Council for compensation.