KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has taken the initiative to set up hospitals in all local locals across the country to provide healthcare services to the people.

Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal shared that his Ministry took the decision towards this end.

As per the decision, 649 local levels lacking hospitals would have at least five-bed hospitals, to begin with.

A total of Rs 640 million was released on Friday itself to procure equipment and tools. Each such hospital will have at least one MBBS doctor, two nurses and other health assistants.

The local units will manage the hospitals as the local units will be vested with all authority to manage the hospitals.

According to the press advisor of Minister Dhakal, Madhav Prasad Tiwari, the Minister took the decision at the policy level to convert private and community hospitals as COVID-19 hospital to treat the suspected and infected ones.