Health Ministry Directs 34 Hospitals to Operate OPD Services on Public Holidays

The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a circular directing 34 hospitals and health facilities across the country to operate Out-Patient Department (OPD) services on public holidays. This move comes in response to public complaints about the unavailability of full health services during holidays.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki confirmed the directive, stating that the Ministry has sent circulars to the selected hospitals, urging them to ensure that OPD services, along with other health services, remain available even on public holidays.

The directive follows a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, which instructed the Ministry of Health and Population to make sure hospitals provide uninterrupted services, including OPD, on holidays.

Among the hospitals receiving the directive are Bir Hospital, Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Bheri Hospital, National Tuberculosis Centre, Koshi Hospital, Nepal Eye Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences, and Patan Academy of Health Sciences, among others.

A notice published in the Nepal Gazette by the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized that all hospitals must deliver a full range of services, including OPD, on public holidays as part of a special provision on public service delivery.

This directive is aimed at ensuring continuous access to healthcare services, addressing the public’s concerns about the lack of service availability during holidays.