Assessment by the health ministry shows newborn units rely heavily on contract staff, while infection control, hygiene and quality monitoring remain weak.

The mosquito-borne, potentially deadly disease has become endemic in Nepal. Over 900 infections have been reported since January in 68 districts

Thousands of people from hundreds of settlements designated as red zones are residing in disaster-prone areas, risking life and property.

Nepal Medical Council has suspended temporary registrations of the doctors and requested authorities to close Baluwatar-based Maria Hospital.

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division asks WHO for urgent doses.

Chitwan, Kailali, Tanahun, Dang, Jhapa, Kapilvastu, Morang, Rupendehi, Sunsari, Rautahat and Sarlahi are among the worst-affected districts.

No reagents available for crucial tests, CT scan services halted for a month, and the hospital pharmacy is running short of most medicines.

Officials say they do not worry about the declining insurance renewal rate, as ‘it reduces the burden’.

A nationwide shortage of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs is forcing patients’ families to source medicines from the black market amid disrupted supply and government price controls.

With two more districts under its grip, the number of districts witnessing the deadly disease has reached 9 in the past five months.

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division urges provinces and local units to stock medicines for water-borne diseases, test water quality and prepare for monsoon-related infections.

Repeated backtracking on promised benefits has reduced health insurance renewal rates to around 50 percent.

Over 300 children have been infected in outbreaks in seven districts of Nepal since January.

Doctors warn that delay in preparedness could turn even a single infection into a major health crisis.

Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj is treating around 100 heat-affected patients daily in recent days.