Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 8:

A five-member monitoring team under Dr Bishnu Prasad Pandit paid a ‘surprise’ visit to the Bir Hospital today.

The committee inspected surgical and emergency wards, and other departments of the hospital and checked the attendance sheet of all hospital employees.

Health ministry spokesperson Dr Hari Nath Acharya said the committee would submit its report tomorrow. Bir Hospital has been criticised for delay in providing services and compelling patients to go to private hospitals for X-ray, radiology and CT-scan. The hospital’s CT-scan machine has been out of order for the last eight months, while the X-Ray for the last one month. According to the Ministry of Health, strict action will be taken against those found to be absent during office hours. MoH formed the monitoring committee on February 2 to implement the 12-point working policy, which emphasises providing prompt health services to all. MoH is working on forming another committee to monitor regional-level hospitals. Last week, the team paid surprise visits to two government hospitals — Kanti Children’s Hospital and Indra Rajlaxmi Maternity Hospital.