NC Leader Paudel Urges Government to Open OPDs on Public Holidays

Kathmandu — Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradip Paudel has drawn the government's attention to the plight of patients who are unable to access OPD services at government hospitals during public holidays.

General Secretary Paudel stated that the suspension of OPD services in government facilities has restricted access to health services that should be affordable and easily accessible, thereby increasing the financial burden on patients. 

He mentioned that during his previous tenure at the Ministry of Health and Population, he had initiated a process to provide continuous services even on public holidays by offering incentives to doctors and health workers who worked extra hours.

He noted that, considering the high pressure of service seekers in government hospitals, he had started reform measures such as operating OPD services in two shifts and extending service hours. He further explained that since health care is a specialized service, he had prepared a study report to provide additional incentive allowances for doctors and health workers and had begun its implementation. 

He also mentioned that the process of adding 2,500 new personnel in the first phase to address the shortage of doctors and health workers in hospitals had reached its final stages.

Paudel emphasized that the overall health system can only be made citizen-friendly by providing smooth, simple, and quality services to the general public through government hospitals and health institutions, while also encouraging the private sector. He informed that rather than depriving citizens of services in a sensitive area like health, a policy is needed to expand it further. 

He also requested the government to continue the overall reform initiatives he had started to make health services more effective, accessible, and citizen-oriented.