The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a directive to halt the services provided by the outpatient department (OPD).
The Health Ministry has written to all the hospitals to halt the OPD and elective surgery services citing the surging cases of coronavirus infection in the second wave of COVID-19.
MoHP senior assistant administrator, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari informed that although it has been directed to halt the OPD and elective surgery, emergency services will be provided to the patients. The Health Ministry reported 4,364 new cases of coronavirus infection in the country on Tuesday.
The ministry has further directed the hospitals not to grant permission for longer leave to any doctors and health workers and has asked those on longer holidays to be present at the office, Dr Adhikari said. The hospitals have been urged to arrange the duty schedules of hospital workers in such a way that at least 50 per cent of staff be present at work all the time.
Likewise, the hospitals have been urged to manage to fill the vacant post by appointing new staff even with the contract of six-month tenure.
All the hospitals have been urged to manage the intensive care units and ready the instruments and equipment used in emergency cases along with the management of oxygen supply.
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