KATHMANDU: The government is all set to enforce the provision of allocating 10 per cent of the total beds at the government and private hospitals to the poor, underprivileged, aged citizens, single women and disabled and provide them treatment free of cost.

Organising a press meet at the Ministry of Health today, Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa said his Ministry had already issued a circular towards that end.

Government and private hospitals are directed to strongly follow the provision from coming December 16.

Talks are going on regarding the matter of providing free medicines and surgery to the needy, the Minister said.

The existing 10 per cent free bed facility covers the medical counselling, lab fees, nursing fees, diagnostic services available in the respective hospitals and oxygen facility.

The services would be provided to the needy patients on the recommendations of respective Village Development Committees or Municipalities, District Development Committees, District Administration Offices, District Public Health Offices, according to Thapa.

Recommendations from the Bir Hospital or the Ministry of Health would also work in the cases of Capital.

Needy patients can themselves fill up the form to claim the services. The form is free. The Ministry will monitor the implementation of the provision.

A facilitation unit led by the Director of Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health has been formed to monitor the enforcement of the provision.

A complaint could be registered at the unit or the complaint management unit at the Ministry and its subordinate bodies (District Public Health Office, Regional Health Directorate), Department of Health Services if any hospital was found not bringing the provision into practice.

The guidelines relating to the establishment, operation and improvement of health institutes-2013 has incorporated the provision of allocating 10 per cent beds available in both government and private hospitals to the people belonging to the above-mentioned categories.