Kathmandu, February 1:

The politically successful decision of the government to provide free maternity service is failing practically in the lack of skilled human resource in most of the health centres, accused Bhagirath Baniya, president of Nepal Health Workers’ Union.

He said that the government had been unable to distribute medicine in required quantities to

health centres, much to the suffering of the patients. Baniya blamed that the government was distributing drug of poor quality in the name of free medicine and said the quality of the drugs available in the market should be maintained.

Baniya informed that NHWU had taken a decision to work against malpractices in the health sector and for the welfare of health workers.

“We will be effortful to ensure fundamental rights for the health workers and also to make health service qualitative,” Baniya said, adding that they would work for developing infrastructure for the health sector.

He said that the union would press the government to amend existing laws, addressing the need of the time. The health workers’ body would draw the attention of the concerned agencies towards protecting expensive vaccines by making refrigerators and electricity more accessible.

Baniya opined that the service provided by the government should be effective and people oriented.