KATHMANDU: Press Council Nepal has urged the government to ensure free treatment for journalists facing health problems due to COVID-19.

At a Lumbini Province-level virtual program organized by Press Council Nepal regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalists and media Sunday, Press Council Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet said that working in favor of journalists during this pandemic was a crucial responsibility.

Saying that Council’s attention has been drawn over the issue of the Media Bill, Basnet expressed the view that the Bill should be friendly to the media fraternity. He laid the emphasis that all should be aware to follow and implement the Journalist’s Code of Conduct as fair journalism would be developed only from its implementation.

The Council would take initiatives with the government to provide facilities to the media through public welfare advertisement, he added.

Similarly, President of Federation of Nepali Journalists and Council Member Bipul Pokhrel said that problem should be addressed immediately as many newspapers have been closed due to COVID-19 and there are issues with the public welfare advertisement as well.