KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has accused the staffers at government hospitals of sending the patients to the private health institutions.
Speaking at a program on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of Kanti Children's Hospital in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Minister Dhakal alleged that government staffers, ambulance and taxi drivers in Kathmandu Valley are usually involved in forcing the patients to visit the private hospitals.
"Although common people prefer to visit state-owned hospitals for their treatment, the employees including medical staffs working there mislead them saying that the government hospitals don't provide reliable medical services. Rather, they are recommended to visit private hospitals. By doing this job, the employees get certain percentage of commissions from the private hospitals. Such a scenario is really shocking," the minister said.
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Unless and until the health practitioners change their attitude and treatment to the service seekers, reforming government hospitals will remain a far-fetched dream, according to him.
"Government hospitals have been trapped by private clinics and it is not a good sign," remarked Dhakal.
On the occasion, he also committed to checking the practice of exchanging of commission during medicine procurement and charging fees during the transfer of government employees.
Speaking further, he stated that he fulfilled all the vacant positions at the Medical Council and recruited all the members at the Nursing Council except one. "We have yet to finalize employees' adjustment and materialize some structural aspects; therefore I am expecting cooperation from all the corners."
