The office has to compensate the ticket fees to the health centers, which have been providing health services free of cost to all. Patients across the country have been getting free health services up to district hospital level. They even do not have to pay for ticket money. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) compensates the ticket money through PHRD. [break]
"Health centers from across the country have been demanding reimbursement, but we are not in the position to release it immediately," Dr Anand Shrestha, director of PHRD said.
"Regional chiefs have sent letters thrice to us asking for the money. They are facing pressure from local health centers," said Rup Narayan Khatiwada, an official at PHRD. He said that budget crunch has severely affected the government´s popular free health programs. The MOHP has been providing free health services, including ticket money and some medicines. The office said that other free health programs have also been severely affected due to the lack of budget. Khatiwada said that the situation could lead to severe consequences if the ministry failed to allocate the amount immediately.
"If we cannot release the amount immediately, health centers at lower level will start charging poor patients. It could have a negative impact on public," said Khatiwada. The office said that construction works of 40 urban health clinics have halted and training of female community health volunteers have also been affected due to budget crunch.
The district hospitals provide 40 essential medicines free of cost. Primary health care centers provide 32 and health posts and sub-health posts provide 20 types of essential medicines free of cost since 2010.
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