Directing hospitals to conduct outpatient services even on public holidays

The spokesperson of the ministry, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, informed that a circular has been issued to those hospitals and health institutions to operate the hospital's outpatient services on public holidays.

A few days ago, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers sent a letter to the Ministry of Health and Population, instructing the hospital to provide all types of services, including outpatient services, on public holidays.

According to Dr. Budhathoki, the spokesperson of the ministry, in the hospitals that have been circulated, Veer Hospital, Charity Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Bheri Hospital, National Tuberculosis Center, Koshi Hospital, Nepal Eye Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center, Rapti Institute of Health Sciences, Patan Institute of Health Sciences etc.

In the notice published in the gazette regarding public holidays issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to the provision in clause (no) of sub-chapter 10.1 of the special provisions on public service delivery, there is a provision that the hospital should provide all types of services including external services even on public days.

The government has given instructions to provide external services even on public holidays, based on public complaints that health-related services are not provided by most of the agencies on public holidays.