Mayor Balen submits list of 68 hospitals that do not provide target beneficiaries free medical treatment to health minister

Published On: May 31, 2023 01:15 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KMC warns of closing down the administration of these hospitals if the health minister fails to bring them under the ambit of law within seven days

KATHMANDU, May 31: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah has submitted a list of 68 hospitals that have failed to provide target beneficiaries free medical treatment as per the law to Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

Mayor Shah said that he held a meeting with Health Minister Basnet on Tuesday and asked Minister Basnet to take action against these hospitals.

Section 11 (4) B-2 of the Local Government Operation Act 2017 (2074 BS) gives the local governments the legal authority to regulate health institutions. Section 70 (d) of Chapter 24 of the Health Institution Operation Standard 2077 BS, makes it mandatory for hospitals to allocate 10 percent of the total beds of any hospital for free treatment for poor, helpless, and abandoned patients who visit the hospital for treatment.

Mayor Shah on Wednesday posted a status on his official Facebook page. “This public notice has been issued regarding the provision of health facilities including hospitals within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City area. Ten percent of the total beds to be given to the poor and targeted groups in accordance with the Health Institution Operation Standards, 2077 BS and prevailing health related laws, to provide free treatment and other health facilities from this Kathmandu Metropolitan City dated May 20, 2023.

According to the Constitution of Nepal and the prevailing laws, the state must guarantee the fundamental rights related to basic health and the three levels of government have the responsibility to implement those rights. While drawing the attention of the Minister of Health towards providing accessible healthcare for all by increasing the access of the general public to health and providing health related discount facilities to the citizens according to the existing laws, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has requested the health ministry to regulate and take action according to the attached details of 68 health institutions that do not provide details of target beneficiaries of free medical treatment when requested.”

Mayor Shah further stated, “If Minister Basnet does not take action against those hospitals under the legal framework within seven days, KMC will be forced to close the hospital administration.”