Election Commission Directs Provision of Primary Healthcare at Polling Stations for Upcoming By-elections

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has directed that primary healthcare services be made available at polling stations for the House of Representatives by-elections scheduled for this coming Falgun 21.

The Commission has drawn the attention of stakeholders to keep health workers on standby at hospitals and health institutions for this purpose. Voting will take place on Falgun 21 at 10,967 polling centers and 23,255 polling stations (including temporary ones). The Commission has called for arrangements to provide necessary primary healthcare services for election staff, security personnel, and voters, including persons with disabilities, the infirm, and the elderly, who will be present on election day.

In a statement issued by Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Commission, it was mentioned that the Commission's management work for the election is continuously ongoing as per the schedule approved by the Commission, and it has directed arrangements to provide emergency health services required by staff, security personnel deployed at all polling stations, and voters coming to cast their votes at the respective polling stations.

He informed that a letter has been sent through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to all local levels for necessary assistance. The Commission also stated that letters have been sent to the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to keep doctors, health workers, and medicines ready at hospitals and health institutions across the country to provide essential and emergency treatment services.

To conduct the election in a free, fair, and fearless environment, the Commission has been continuously collaborating with the Government of Nepal and other concerned bodies. Furthermore, the government has already made a decision based on the Commission's recommendation for a public holiday for three days before and after the voting day to ensure meaningful participation of voters in the election.

The statement issued by the Commission mentioned that in line with the concept of collaboration with provincial and local governments and stakeholders to operate the voting process systematically, the Commission has requested the relevant ministries and local levels to arrange for the use of government structures such as educational institutions, health posts, ward offices, etc., where polling stations are located, and the physical assets within those structures, for three days from Tuesday, Falgun 19, to Thursday, Falgun 21. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also already corresponded with the relevant bodies based on this request to the government.

He stated that the Commission has urged the Government of Nepal, provincial governments, local levels, and all concerned bodies to arrange the necessary support as per the decisions and correspondence made by the Commission.