Dhulikhel Hospital has said that it will not stop providing treatment services under the insurance despite the government's delay in paying health insurance premiums.

The government has not been able to pay the health insurance amount in the current fiscal year. After the government did not pay, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and others have stopped providing medicines and treatment facilities under the insurance.

Dhulikhel Hospital has said that it is committed to service and will not stop treating patients under the insurance facility. At a press conference organized on Sunday to provide information about the expanded services of the hospital, the founder of the hospital, Prof. Dr. Ramkantha Makju, said that although the insurance program launched by the government targeting the poor citizens is positive, there are problems in its management. He said that Dhulikhel Hospital will not stop providing treatment under the insurance even if it has to buy goods on credit.

According to the hospital's director, Prof. Dr. Balram Malla, the hospital has yet to receive Rs 360 million from the government for insurance and poor citizens' health treatment since last Shrawan. Malla informed that more than 60 percent of the patients coming to the hospital are treated through insurance.

According to him, the hospital is providing insurance services worth Rs 1.5 million per day and Rs 5 million per month to poor citizens. 'We are not in favor of stopping treatment as more than 1,000 patients will be affected daily if the treatment under the insurance is stopped,' Malla said.

Dhulikhel Hospital has also extended the operating hours of the outpatient department (OPD). The hospital has increased its regular OPD services by two hours, targeting service recipients who are busy with work during the morning and afternoon.

According to the new OPD operating schedule, it will be from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, the hospital has informed. Earlier, the OPD service was operating from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.