Private Hospitals Association Objects to Government Directive on Free Beds

Kathmandu. The Association of Private Health Institutions of Nepal (AFIN), the umbrella organization of private hospitals, has expressed serious objection to the ambiguous and impractical language of the government directive to manage 10 percent beds free of charge for poor patients in private hospitals. 

A team led by AFIN Chairman Dr. Padam Bahadur Khadka, after doing homework on the report related to the remuneration of health workers and free treatment, submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Health and Food Hygiene Nisha Mehta on Monday. 

AFIN has expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government is trying to impose service conditions that put the private sector, which is providing health services to 70 percent of the citizens without any help or grant from the government, into crisis instead of encouraging it. 

During the discussion, AFIN Chairman Dr. Khadka clarified that it is not possible to manage 10 percent free beds according to the procedure brought unilaterally by ignoring the umbrella organization of the private sector and contrary to the agreement of 2073 BS.