Bill related to COVID-19 stalled in parliament

Published On: November 24, 2021 02:30 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, Nov 24: The COVID-19 Crisis Management bill has been pending in parliament for about a month now. Since the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance became inactive on September 15, there is no law regarding COVID-19.

If parliamentary sessions are not held, the law has to be brought through an ordinance. But the government ended the parliamentary session after introducing a bill. As a result, the law-making process has been obstructed. The government had earlier brought the ordinance due to the need for a law on COVID-19.

Laws related to COVID are required, including Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2074, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Regulation, 2076 and Infectious Diseases Act, 2020. But the issue has not been addressed, said an official at the Ministry of Law, Justice and parliamentary Affairs.

The law also requires the formation of a team of experts to work quickly to control the pandemic. The law needs to address issues such as health emergencies, deployment of the army, and a COVID-19 Unified Hospital, the official said.

A bill related to COVID-19 was registered in the National Assembly only on November 2. In order for this bill to move forward, a session of Parliament has to be held. But there is no parliamentary session. Although the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is decreasing day by day, it has not been brought under full control.

Vaccination is not enough. But now that the ordinance is inactive, it is important to know how to deal with the problems that may arise while the new law is being processed in parliament. If there is no clear provision of hospital responsibilities, civil rights and what doctors and citizens should follow, it is likely that the pandemic will spread and deaths due to it will increase.


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