Mayor Balen has submitted a roster of 68 hospitals to the health minister, highlighting those that do not offer complimentary medical care to intended recipients.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah has forwarded a compilation of 68 hospitals to Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet, citing their failure to furnish complimentary medical care to designated beneficiaries as mandated by law.
Mayor Shah revealed that he convened a meeting with Health Minister Basnet on Tuesday, urging him to initiate measures against these hospitals.
As per Section 11 (4) B-2 of the Local Government Operation Act 2017 (2074 BS), local authorities are empowered to oversee health facilities. Additionally, Section 70 (d) of Chapter 24 of the Health Institution Operation Standard 2077 BS mandates hospitals to reserve 10 percent of their beds for free treatment for impoverished, vulnerable, and neglected patients seeking medical attention.
Mayor Shah issued a statement on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, highlighting the obligation for health facilities within Kathmandu Metropolitan City to comply with the Health Institution Operation Standards, 2077 BS, and pertinent health legislation. The statement, dated May 20, 2023, underscores the imperative of allocating ten percent of hospital beds to underprivileged and targeted groups for cost-free treatment and other health services.
Asserting the constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights pertaining to basic healthcare, Mayor Shah emphasized the joint responsibility of the three tiers of government to enforce these rights. He urged the Health Minister to ensure widespread healthcare access by extending health-related discounts to citizens in accordance with existing laws. Moreover, he implored the health ministry to regulate and address the identified shortcomings of the 68 health institutions that have failed to furnish information regarding beneficiaries entitled to free medical treatment.
Mayor Shah cautioned that if Minister Basnet does not take appropriate action against the implicated hospitals within seven days in accordance with the legal framework, KMC would be compelled to suspend their administrative operations.
Link to Kathmandu Metropolitan : https://kathmandu.gov.np/
