Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradeep Paudel Urges Government to Ensure OPD Services During Public Holidays

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradeep 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. He stated that the disruption of OPD services has restricted access to essential healthcare and increased the financial burden on patients. 

He recalled that during his tenure at the Ministry of Health and Population, he had initiated a process to provide incentives to doctors and health workers working overtime, ensuring continuous service even on public holidays. 

He noted that he had started reforms such as operating OPD services in two shifts and extending service hours to manage the patient load in government hospitals. 

He also recalled that, recognizing healthcare as an essential service, he had prepared and implemented a study report to provide additional incentive allowances for doctors and health workers. 

He mentioned that the process to add 2500 new personnel in the first phase to address the shortage of doctors and health workers in hospitals had reached its final stage. 

He stated that the overall health system can only be made citizen-friendly by providing easy, simple, and quality services to the public through government hospitals and health institutions, while also encouraging the private sector. 

He has requested the government to continue the reform initiatives started in the past to make healthcare more effective, accessible, and citizen-centric.