Claims the number of ventilators raised to 900 from 770 before the pandemic 

KATHMANDU, Sep 19: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government translated the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen health infrastructures across the country.

Addressing the function organized to mark the National Day in Army Pavillion in Kathmandu on Saturday, Prime Minister Oli said the government has allocated necessary budget to develop necessary health infrastructures taking the threat posed by the global pandemic as an opportunity. “Leaving aside some criticisms, the government has worked impressively to combat COVID-19 pandemic,” claimed PM Oli.

“When the first positive case of COVID-19 was detected in the country, the swab sample had to be sent overseas as it was not possible for RT-PCR test in Nepal. Now, there are 33 government and 14 private RT-PCR testing labs in operation in the country. Daily testing capacity is above 23,500 samples,” said Prime Minister Oli.

Addressing the nation, PM Oli also claimed that the number of ICU beds  has been increased to 2,600  from 1,551. Likewise, the number of ventilators was 770, which has now been raised to 900, he claimed.

“In the beginning, the COVID-19 testing cost was Rs 8,500 per sample. Now, the testing can be done at Rs 2,000 in  both government and private laboratories. Our estimated commitment of the RT-PCR testing of at least two percent of the population has been fulfilled,” said PM Oli, while addressing the nation.

Likewise, PM also said that the government was preparing to mobilize at least 100 post graduate doctors under the Ministry of Health and Population in combating COVID-19. “Rapid response teams led by specialist doctors have been kept in ready-to-deploy positions in 25 hub hospitals and 20 teaching hospitals across the country,” according to PM Oli.

 
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