CHITWAN: The newly elected Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Renu Dahal has announced a decision on making the tickets for Out-Patient Department (OPD) services cost-free at the government-run hospitals for women and elderly citizens.

After taking oath of office and secrecy on Sunday, Dahal took the decision to provide cost-free tickets for availability of OPD services for women and elderly citizens above 60 years of age in government hospitals in Bharatpur Metropolis.

“A total of 155,000 patients had availed of OPD services in Bharatpur Hospital in the last fiscal year, which included 55 per cent of women and senior citizens,” said Prem Raj Joshi, metropolis executive official.

Joshi further added that the total estimated cost of providing free tickets is around Rs 4.1 million annually.

The ratification of the decision by the mayor is likely to increase the number of patients for which Rs 5.94 million has been approved.

Dahal said that she understands the health problems faced by women, which prompted her to take the decision.