KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has officially implemented the ‘Hospital Service Reform Procedure 2026’ to streamline medical services and ensure they are more patient-centric and accessible. Issued under the Public Health Service Act 2018, the new guidelines aim to eliminate long-standing systemic inefficiencies in government and private healthcare facilities.
According to Ministry Joint Spokesperson Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the procedure mandates that hospitals prioritize quality and convenience for every citizen while moving toward a more transparent and digitized healthcare model.
Under the new regulations, hospitals are required to develop an integrated e-record system to manage patient history, treatment protocols, and follow-up schedules efficiently. Furthermore, laboratory services and report delivery must now be available 24 hours a day to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
In a move to protect patients from unnecessary costs, doctors are strictly instructed to recommend medicines that are readily available in the hospital’s own pharmacy, and hospitals are required to maintain a consistent stock of these essential daily medicines.
To prevent commercial interference during patient care, drug sales promoters are prohibited from entering hospital premises during official working hours or while services are being delivered.
Additionally, the procedure establishes clear referral protocols, stating that in cases where a patient requires a transfer, hospitals must prioritize referrals to other government facilities and provide a formal referral slip. These measures are expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on patients and curb the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on clinical prescriptions.
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