Health Minister Forms Committee to Explore Establishment of Neuro Treatment Centre

Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Poudel, has formed a committee to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a Neuro Treatment Centre in Nepal. The decision was made at the ministerial level on Tuesday, according to the minister’s secretariat.

The committee will be led by Dr. Gopal Sedhai, an associate professor at the Institute of Medical Studies, Tribhuvan University. Members include Dr. Binod Rajbhandari of Bir Hospital, Dr. Rajiv Ojha from Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Medical Studies, and representatives from the Nepalese Association of Neurologists. Dr. Amit Kandel, associate professor at the Jacobes School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in the US, and Dr. Pushpa Raj Poudel, section chief of the Ministry’s Policy Planning and Monitoring Division, have been appointed as member secretaries.

The committee’s mandate is to identify suitable land and gather expert recommendations for establishing a national neurosurgery center. The group is tasked with submitting its report to the ministry after comprehensive consultations with specialists in the field.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki emphasized the urgency of setting up the center, citing the rising incidence of neuro-related diseases in the country. He explained that the center would provide subsidized treatment for the poor, as most neuro-related treatments are currently only available through non-governmental providers.