Kathmandu, December 3
The Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, Kathmandu has decided to provide free emergency services beginning from Sunday, December 5.
The free service is to be put in place following the directive of Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada.
Under the provision, any emergency patient will not be charged for all prescribed tests and required care, and medicines including tickets. Blood tests, X-rays, ECGs, tickets, and other medical tests and prescribed medicines within the 24 hours are free, the secretariat of Minister Khatiwada informs.
It is said the government aims to ensure free basic medical care from all government health facilities in accordance with article 35 ( the right to health) of the constitution, which guarantees that every citizen shall have the right to free basic health services from the state, and no one shall be deprived of emergency health services.
The campaign is launched from Teku, according to the ministry.
The ministry will be supporting the hospital to deliver free emergency services.
It is said efforts are on to implement the provision at other government hospitals as well.
