Frontline health workers be provided additional 50 percent of salary as risk allowance: PM Oli

KATHMANDU, May 3: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has announced to provide 50 percent of their remuneration to all the frontline health workers who are directly involved in treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Addressing the nation through a live telecast on Monday, PM Oli also said that the retired medical professionals would be hired for a year in order to address the manpower crunch in treating corona patients.

Similarly, private hospitals and medical colleges will be converted into corona designated hospitals in order to provide speedy treatment to infected people. According to Oli, public spaces including stadiums, hotels, schools, playgrounds will be converted into well-equipped quarantine facilities.

In his address, PM Oli announced a ban on the export of oxygen cylinders during the time of pandemic. “Similarly, those found illegally exporting live saving oxygen cylinders will be taken stern against,” he said. 

Oli also shared that the Nepal Army has been directed to immediately build a 1000-bed corona hospital in provinces and in the federal capital of the country.

While urging the public to strictly abide by the government-set health protocols, Oli also hinted at tightening the ongoing prohibitory orders to curb the further spread of coronavirus disease. As of Monday morning, as many as 41 districts have been imposing prohibitory orders.