PM Shah directs expansion of burn treatment centers across seven provinces

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has directed immediate progress on a plan to establish well-equipped burn treatment centers in all seven provinces.

During a discussion with Vice-Chancellors of health science academies at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday, Prime Minister Shah also directed concerned authorities to move forward with plans to strengthen burn wards in major government hospitals.

Prime Minister Shah suggested effective coordination among the federal government, provincial governments and concerned health institutions to ensure timely and quality treatment for patients suffering from severe burns.

Stating that quality, effective and citizen-friendly health services are the government’s top priority, Prime Minister Shah emphasized the need for hospital cleanliness, improvement in service delivery, use of digital technology and effective implementation of good governance.

He directed the effective implementation of the provision requiring private hospitals to provide at least 10 percent of outpatient (OPD) services at concessional rates to increase access to health services for poor, helpless and economically disadvantaged citizens.

Suggesting that institutions should share and learn from the best practices developed by health institutions, Prime Minister Shah said initiatives would be taken to resolve issues of land encroachment in the name of institutions through coordination with concerned bodies and according to the law.

During the discussion, Vice-Chancellors presented suggestions on improving the quality of medical education, strengthening health service delivery, maintaining hospital cleanliness, expanding specialist health services, managing health manpower efficiently, promoting research and developing infrastructure.

They also informed the Prime Minister about digital transformation in health services, effective implementation of the Hospital Information Management System and the impact of land encroachment on institutional development.

The discussion was attended by Patan Institute of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nabisman Singh Pradhan, Rapti Institute of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Narayan Singh Gurung, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan Vice-Chancellor Dr. Smriti Kafle and National Institute of Medical Sciences Vice-Chancellor Vivek Acharya.