KATHMANDU: Public and private hospitals across Nepal have started implementing the government’s directive to provide 10 percent of hospital beds free of cost to poor and vulnerable patients.
According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), 32 hospitals—including 19 private and 13 public institutions—are currently offering free treatment through designated beds.
In a notice issued on Friday, the Ministry stated that the policy aims to ensure access to healthcare for poor, helpless, and abandoned patients, and to prevent exclusion from medical services due to financial constraints. The initiative also seeks to promote social responsibility among healthcare providers.
The provision is part of the government’s recently announced 100-point governance agenda unveiled on March 27, which includes key reforms in the health sector.
The Ministry reported that hospitals such as Bir Hospital, Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, and Kanti Children’s Hospital have been monitored and provided guidance for improvements.
It also informed that a draft Hospital Service Improvement Directive has been prepared to further strengthen service delivery.
Meanwhile, burn treatment services are being expanded, with new burn wards under establishment in Tikapur, Mahakali, Seti, and Kalaiya, and services resumed at the Janakpur Burn Treatment Center.
Additionally, preparations are underway to introduce emergency air ambulance services in remote hilly regions. The Ministry is also coordinating with the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to amend procedures related to emergency air rescue for at-risk pregnant women and new mothers in remote areas.
To improve accountability, the Ministry has introduced QR codes and dedicated email channels to collect public complaints, with an integrated system now in place to address grievances.
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