Govt. takes responsibility for safety of doctors: Health Minister Basnet

Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said the government will take the responsibility of providing security to the doctors.

Talking to journalists here today, he condemned the incidents of assault on doctors. "Every day, such sad incidents have been taking place. This is regrettable. Discussions are being frequently held on this matter amongst the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, the Health and Population Minister and the Minister for Education, Science and Technology," he shared.

Stating that discussions have already been held regarding the Ministry of Home Affairs ensuring the law and order, the Health Minister appealed to the doctors to return to work. He added that discussions have been held on implementing in an effective manner the topics related to security in the health sector as stated in our Act and on all stakeholders becoming active so that such incidents will not recur in the coming days.

According to the Minister, talks have been held on the Home Ministry providing security and maintaining peace.

He said the medical education academies that were closed with the implementation of the Medical Education Act would be brought into operation within six months. Although opening hospitals in the remote areas and assigning doctors to these areas as provisioned by this Act were its good aspects, problems have been seen in the production of skilled workforce in this sector due to this Act, Minister Basnet said of the Act.

"If this situation prevailed, we might reach a condition in which we will not be able to find doctors, nurses and health workers in five years," the Health and Population Minister said, adding that the government is preparing to operate the closed medical institutes by amending the Medical Education Act. He further added that the closed medical academies will be brought into operation by developing a standard for maintaining quality in medical education and the government itself determining the fees.

On a different note, Minister Basnet said the patients' pressure is high at some hospitals while others are on the verge of closure due to lack of patients due to the health insurance board. He stressed that the Ministry of Health and Population is vigorously working to regulate this. As he said, he himself is looking after this issue after growing complaints that works were done in a discriminatory manner.

The Minister said that the matter would be sorted out soon and regular services moved ahead.

'Contribution of social sector vital in eye treatment'

Meanwhile, speaking in a programme organized by Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh at Bharatpur Hospital today, Health and Population Minister Basnet said the community sector has made a significant contribution to eye care and treatment services.

He stressed on the need of further expanding the hospital's services. "You have established this hospital as an exemplary one outside the federal capital, in terms of eye care and treatment. The government pays attention to this progress which you have made through your own efforts and perseverance," he said and called for expanding the eye treatment services across the country.

On the occasion, Sangh's central member Chij Kumar Maskey, district president Jayaram Shrestha, secretary Keshav Adhikari and hospital administrator Daya Shankar Chaudhary apprised the Minister of the different activities carried out by the hospital and its various problems.