KATHMANDU: The COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance, 2021, issued by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday opens the pathway to impose a health emergency in the country.
Earlier, the government faced a legal hurdle to impose a health emergency.
The ordinance also proposes another mechanism to control the pandemic in place of Covid Crisis Management Center (CCMC). Similarly, it has cleared legal obstacles to procure medical supplies. It also stipulates one year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 500,000 for those violating the state of emergency.
The ordinance further stipulates that the government can take take charge of health facilities during the period of declaration of emergency, use facilities to diagnose and treat the infected patients, and move doctors and health workers for the treatment and diagnosis of Covid-19.
The ordinance also called for dissolving the CCMC and the Cabinet meeting held Friday scrapped the mechanism that was led by Ishwar Pokharel since its inception last year.
The ordinance proposes a 10-member Steering Committee headed by the prime minister. The other Steering Committee’s members are Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers of Health and Population, Home, Finance, Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Foreign Affairs, Chief Secretary and Chief of Army Staff.
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