Kathmandu, October 17

Minister for Health Giriraj Mani Pokhrel today said health services in the country would improve soon after parliamentary and provincial elections.

Speaking at a book release programme organised by Nepal Thalassaemia Society, he said due to insufficient human resources and infrastructure at local levels people could not get quality health services.

“Every year new forms of diseases are found but due to lack  of advanced labs and medical tools, we fail to diagnose these diseases and find a proper solution,” he said.

Releasing a book on Thalassaemia, he said, “The number of children born with thalassaemia is increasing every year, which has drawn serious concerns of the World Health Organisation and it has put Nepal on its priority list to help control thalassaemia”.

According to Nepal Thalassemia Society, 150 children diagnosed with this kind of blood disorder are provided with blood for transfusion by NTS. Durga Prasad Pathak, president of NTS, said most parents were unaware of this inherited blood disorder.

“It can be prevented if people go for blood test before marriage,” he added.

Dr Amit Shrestha, child health specialist at Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Centre said the number of  children born with thalassaemia has increased in recent years due to lack of awareness. He also said that once a child is diagnosed with this kind of blood disorder, blood transfusion is the only option.