Kapilvastu, November 27:

Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokhrel has said the government is all set to formulate and reform Acts and Regulations required for embracing a federal system.

Talking to reporters at a programme organised in Taulihawa today, Pokhrel said, “The country is all set to embrace a federal system. But, the portfolios of Home, Finance and Foreign Affairs will be kept under the jurisdiction of the central government. We have already begun preparations for amending the Act and laws in line with a federal system.”

Saying that the government is all set to embrace the federal structure in the interest of the people as reflected in the Jana Andolan II, Minister Pokhrel said, “But the nation cannot take a course of federal structure before the CA polls.” He said that no party has shown interest in changing the leadership of the current all-party government so far. He also expressed concerns about the prolonged transition period.

Also today, Minister Pokhrel met the victims of Kapilvastu riots at the Shankarpur based camp.

Saying that getting health services is people’s fundamental right, Pokhrel said the government is all set to provide free health services to the people from mid-January 2008.

He said directives have been issued to all health institutions across the nation to paste the details of the free health services at the respective offices by January 14. For the time being, free health services will be available at hospitals in 35 districts and health posts, sub-health posts and primary health centers across the nation.

The government will also launch the telemedicine system from this year and build a network for it in all health institutions throughout the country by 2010, he said.

CDO Beni Madhav Gyawali, medical superintendent and chief of the public health office Dr Altaf Hussain, president of the Bir Hospital Development Committee Jagat Man KC and CPN-UML district secretary Balram Adhikari also shed lights on the health condition in the district.