Ministry to Reactivate Health Worker Security Committee Amidst Rising Attacks

Kathmandu. To control the increasing attacks on health workers and vandalism in health institutions, the Ministry of Health and Population, which has been inactive for a long time, is preparing to reactivate the 'Health Worker and Health Institution Security Coordination Committee'.

The committee, formed in accordance with 'Section 5' of the 'Health Worker and Health Institution Security Act 2066', is being regularly operated again and the process of effectively mobilizing it to solve security-related problems of health workers and health institutions has been advanced, the ministry has stated.

The decision to reactivate the committee has been made as incidents of attacks on health workers and vandalism in hospitals have been increasing recently.

According to the Act, the committee has the authority to approve and implement plans and programs related to the security of health workers and health institutions, coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other relevant bodies, provide suggestions to the Government of Nepal on security policies, investigate or cause to investigate incidents that adversely affect security, and assist in investigations. The responsibility of implementing compensation arrangements as per court decisions will also lie with the committee.

According to the Act, the chairperson of the committee will be a 12th-level employee of the ministry designated by the Secretary of the Ministry, and the vice-chairperson will be the chief of the concerned division. Additionally, representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal Medical Council, Nepal Nursing Council, Nepal Medical Association, Nepal Health Professional Association, Nepal Ayurvedic Doctors Association, Nepal Nurses Association, and Association of Private Health Institutions of Nepal will be members. A Gazetted Second Class or equivalent officer designated by the Ministry will also serve as the member-secretary.

Amidst the recent attack on a doctor at Narayani Hospital, demands for effective implementation of legal provisions to ensure the security of health workers have been escalating. In this context, the ministry is preparing to activate this inactive committee to solve immediate problems and advance necessary policy decisions.