Kathmandu, December 12

Over 60 per cent private clinics and laboratories in Kathmandu Valley have been operating illegally without government’s approval, said health minister Gagan Thapa at a press conference held in the Ministry of Health here today.

Some who had got approval years ago have not renewed their licences taking undue advantage of the weak monitoring system, he added. “Majority of private hospitals and nursing homes have been operating without registration,” said Thapa, adding that the MoH has challenge to make such health facilities accountable and comply with law.

According to Thapa, private clinics and laboratories, which are operating without registration, neither pay taxes nor inform the government health agencies about the services they impart to patients. Moreover, doctors find reports of majority of private clinics, as well as laboratories, unreliable, he added.

Thapa said there were thousands of such clinics number across the country. He added that compared to Kathmandu Valley the number of clinics and laboratories operating illegally was more in districts outside the valley.

The MoH has issued circulars to concerned health agencies across the country to make the illegally operating health facilities accountable. Officials said the government had given one month to all health facilities to get registered or renew their licences.

‘Free service at private hospitals’

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health has decided to make health facilities, including private hospitals and nursing homes, across the country to comply with the condition of providing free health care services to 10 per cent of patients from December 16.

Patients, who cannot afford treatment in the private centres, disabled, elderly people and single women can receive free treatment from those centres under free services programme, health minister Gagan Thapa told mediapersons here today.

“No one will be deprived of treatment and no one will have to die without medication if we can enforce 10 per cent free services in all health facilities,” said Thapa.

He said that the MoH has already issued circulars to private hospitals, community hospitals, medical colleges and nursing homes to implement the government’s decision.

According to Thapa, the ministry has consulted the Association of Private Institutions of Nepal and has taken its consent to enforce 10 per cent free services. “Apart from surgery, all services including medicines and service of intensive care unit will be free for the beneficiaries,” said Gagan Thapa.