Re-thinking Energy: Biomass modernization and electrification in Nepal

Nepal has undertaken huge projects for the nation’s electrification, identifying hydroelectricity as a major energy source given its river-rich mountainous

Rethinking Kathmandu through fluid boundaries of imagination

Kathmandu faces growing challenges from rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, life-threatening pollution, and resource shortages. As the city grapples

Let’s do Sagarmatha Sambaad together with Nepal’s youth

Better late than never. This could be an apt slogan to summarize the feelings around the announcement by Prime Minister

Balancing act: How Conservation Laws can fuel Sustainable Economic Development

Nepal’s judicial system’s process, structure, and operation might have undergone a paradigm shift over the years. Still, its prioritization of

International Education Day: Nepal has fair laws but their implementation is poor

As we celebrate Education Day globally on January 24, it is an opportune moment to evaluate and analyse the best

Operate OPD services on public holidays as well, govt directs

Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers issued the directive to this effect to Ministry of Health and Population.

Kathmandu: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has directed the Ministry of Health and Population to operate Out Patient Department (OPD) services of the hospitals on public holidays as well. In a letter, the OPMCM instructed the ministry to put in place arrangement to provide all health services, including OPD on public holidays. Citing reference to a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding public holidays, OPMCM official said that the directive has been issued in accordance with the legal provisions related to public service delivery. According to the notice, health-related services (including OPD) provided by all types of hospitals should be operated on public holidays.

Most of the agencies have been asked to provide services on public holidays acting on public complaints that health-related services are not being accessible all days. The OPMCM has also requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to make necessary coordination and monitoring for the arrangements of services. According to the special provision, services related to citizenship, national identity card, passport, foreign employment service, including hospitals, should be operated on public holidays as in other days. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said the instruction of the OPMCM regarding OPD service operation in the hospitals would be implemented. “We are preparing to write to all the hospitals after taking a decision from the ministry,” he said, adding, “We are also discussing how to manage the employees working on public holidays.”

He said that discussions are being held on the modality of the operation of OPD service on public holidays.