Government Hospitals Ordered to Operate OPD Services Nationwide

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Health and Population has directed all government hospitals across the country to operate OPD services today, April 18. The ministry has stated that this decision was made with the objective of ensuring that patients do not face inconvenience in accessing health services due to continuous public holidays. 

A press release issued today by Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, Joint Spokesperson of the Ministry, stated that the public holidays falling on three days could affect OPD services in government hospitals and cause inconvenience to service recipients. 

Prioritizing patient health and ensuring access to health services, the ministry has requested all government hospitals nationwide to operate OPD services on Friday. 

However, the Nepal Medical Association has objected to the request to operate OPD services in government hospitals even on public holidays. Issuing a press release on Thursday, the association demanded that the ministry's decision be immediately withdrawn, calling it impractical and unscientific. 

The association mentioned that doctors and health workers who work day and night are also laborers, and operating OPD services even on Labor Day, according to international recognition, would be a great injustice to doctors and health workers. 

'Emergency and other essential services in hospitals operate even on holidays, and it seems there is no significant difference if OPD services are closed for 1-2 days as they are not essential services,' stated the press release signed by the association's General Secretary Dr. Sanjeev Tiwari. 'There is a practice of giving holidays to doctors and health workers on national and international days, similar to other professionals, and since holidays can fall on 3 or more days during other festivals, the ministry's decision is impractical and unscientific.'