KATHMANDU, APRIL 3
The Ministry of Health and Population has released a progress update on health sector reforms under the government's 100-point governance agenda, reporting advances across free treatment access, hospital service quality, burn care facilities, air ambulance preparedness, and a new public grievance system.
According to the ministry, details of free treatment services available at 32 hospitals, 19 private and 13 government, covering 10 percent of their total bed capacity have been published and updated on the ministry's official website, making it easier for the public to identify where free care is available.
In a bid to improve hospital services, monitoring has been carried out at major institutions including Bir Hospital, Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre and Kanti Children's Hospital, with feedback provided for quality improvements. The ministry has also prepared a preliminary draft of a hospital service improvement guideline. On March 29, a consultation was held with federal and provincial hospitals on service quality enhancement, following which several hospitals have submitted improvement reports in line with their action plans.
Regarding burn care services, preparations have begun to establish burn wards at Tikapur, Mahakali and Seti provincial hospitals in Sudurpaschim Province, as well as Kalaiya Hospital in Madhesh Province. Burn treatment services at Madhesh Health Sciences Academy in Janakpur, which had been disrupted, have also resumed.
The ministry said arrangements are being implemented to keep air ambulance services on standby for emergency use in the hilly regions of Sudurpaschim, Madhesh and eastern Nepal. It has also coordinated with the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to revise procedures related to air rescue for pregnant and postpartum women in remote areas.
A dedicated grievance collection system has been established for the health sector, comprising a QR code and a separate email address - gunaso.mohp@gmail.com - to receive public complaints. An integrated system for addressing and resolving grievances has also been set in motion.
The updates reflect the ministry's implementation of Point 85 of the cabinet-approved 100-point governance reform agenda, passed on March 27.