Issuing a stay order in the name of incoming Executive Director of the hospital Dr. Laxmi Narayan Singh, outgoing Executive Director Dr. Bhakta Man Shrestha and the hospital management committee, the single bench of Justice Baidhya Nath Upadhyaya ordered them to resume services within 24 hours. [break]
All vital services at the hospital have remained suspended for several days.
“People will suffer irreparable losses if highly sensitive institutions like hospitals are allowed to remain closed. Thus, the bench hereby orders the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital to resume its services within 24 hours.”
Responding to a writ petition filed by advocates including Jyoti Banayia on Monday, the bench also ordered the authorities to make necessary arrangements for resumption of hospital services.
Petitioners have demanded that the apex court also issue an order to resolve an appointment row at the hospital.
“The Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Ministry of Health, BP Cancer Hospital and the local administration are hereby ordered to take necessary steps to resume services at the hospital, resolving all problems including the appointment row,” reads the order.
The hospital has remained leaderless since March when the row over appointment of its executive-director failed to bet settled.
Administrative work at the hospital was affected as the administrative building was padlocked for two months.
Employees close to outgoing Executive Director Dr. Shrestha padlocked the administrative block, pointing out that the management committee appointed Dr. Laxmi Narayan Singh to the post in contravention of hospital rules.
“The bench also orders government authorities to sort out all issues that caused the closure of the hospital,” reads the order.
Dr. Singh, however, has been claiming that he was appointed through due process and said the dispute can only be settled from the central level.
However, outgoing Executive Director Dr. Shrestha said he would not hand over the post until a successor comes in through legal means.
The bench has also sought written clarifications from defendants within 15 days.
Four patients have already died and many others have suffered due to the closure of the hospital.
Local leaders urge ministry
Meanwhile, an all party meeting held in Chitwan on Tuesday urged the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to resume hospital services at the earliest. “We asked the ministry to immediately open the hospital,” Basanta Raj Gautam, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Chitwan, told Republica. “It is up to the ministry to reopen the hospital.”
However, Dr Anil Karki, one of the hospital board members who is currently in Kathmandu for talks with the government, ruled out any possibility of the hospital coming into operation from Wednesday.
“Ours is an autonomous body,” he told Republica. “The health ministry cannot directly intervene in this affair. All that the ministry can do is appoint the director of the hospital, which has already been done.”
Related story
Purbanchal Cancer Hospital comes into operation in Birtamod
