KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has expressed concerns over detained individuals exploiting humanitarian provisions in the Medical Act to bypass custody and reach hospitals.

Following the temporary release of CPN-Maoist Center Vice-Chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara for medical treatment, Lamichhane invited representatives of the Nepal Medical Council to the ministry for discussions.

Lamichhane invited council representatives to the ministry and inquired about the practice of healthy individuals being detained in custody and then hospitalized.

The ministry also sought suggestions from the council to address this issue.

During Friday’s discussions, Home Minister Lamichhane urged for a report on such incidents along with proposals to tackle them.

The Home Ministry plans to correspond with the Council on Monday.

After discussions with the Home Minister, council member Dr. Kunjansang Sherpa disclosed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated an inquiry into this matter for the first time.

In the discussion, council members Dr. Rupak Ghimire, Dr. Pranay Ratna Shakya, and Dr. Kalu Singh Khatri also participated alongside Dr. Sherpa.