This is for the first time the MoHP has decided to deploy doctors at the health post level. Earlier, the MoHP used to send MBBs doctors only at the public health centers (PHCs).
Every year hundreds of people die and thousands die of waterborne diseases during monsoon.Officials at MoHP said chances of epidemic outbreak during the monsoon are very high as almost all health post buildings in these VDCs have collapsed in the earthquake.
"We have decided to send MBBS doctors to the highly affected VDCs, as chances of epidemic outbreak is very high in those areas," Shanta Bahadur Shrestha , Secretary at the MoHP, said. He informed that the ministry has planned to send doctors who studied on scholarships, volunteer doctors and doctors hired on contract.
According to Secretary Shrestha, the MoHP has already opened vacancy for MBBS doctors to be hired on contract basis. "As soon as they apply for job, we will swiftly hire them and send them to the VDCs," added Secretary Shrestha. He informed that the ministry has planned to send doctors to the affected areas before the start of monsoon.
Dr Guna Raj Lohani, the MoHP's spokesperson informed that almost all the health centers in the quake hit districts have collapsed. "There are neither health facilities nor home for health workers to stay," said spokesperson Lohani.
Dr Lohani informed that the ministry has planned to run health facilities under tents in the affected areas.
The MoHP said that it has suspended the public procurement act to remove hurdles in purchasing essential medicines for the monsoon. "We have already started procurement process," said Dr Lohani.
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