Private hospitals and nursing homes in Kathmandu and Chitwan have been found violating the government rules that require them to reserve 10 percent of their beds to the poor, disabled, elderly and single women, and provide them free health care.

According to the finding of an inspection conducted by the Curative Service Division of the Department of Health Services, many private medical facilities in the two districts are ignoring the government rules.

“Majority of hospitals are not allocating 10 percent of their beds and free treatment services to those who deserve them, while some hospitals are providing free treatment service not to the targeted group, but to political leaders and their relatives,” Dr Manisha Rawal, director at the division, told the Post.

The government rules say that hospitals must offer free of cost medical counseling, nursing, diagnostic service and medicines to the patients who are being treated under the 10 percent free service quota.

“We are preparing to seek clarification from all private hospitals for not implementing the 10 percent free bed and services,” said Dr Arjun Sapkota,

deputy health administrator of the division. “We are also working to amend the health guidelines in which we will include provisions of fine for those who violate the government rules.”

The existing guidelines relating to the Establishment, Operation and Improvement of Health Institutes-2013 has the provision of allocating 10 percent beds and services, but do not have the provision of fine.

Kumar Thapa, senior vice-chairman of the Association of Private Health Institution of Nepal, said private hospitals were unable to allocate 10 percent free beds and services because the government had yet to define the poor.

“We do give discounts to those who are genuinely poor. But patients seek discount, when their bills are high,” said Thapa, who also runs Alka Hospital Pvt Ltd.

He conceded that his hospital was not abiding by the government rules, but claimed that patients were getting discounts.

To get the free services announced by the government, patients need to show recommendations from their respective local unit, district health authority, district administration office, Bir Hospital or the Ministry of Health and Population.

But, Thapa said, such recommendations oftentimes do not ensure that the patients are genuinely poor.

“Anyone can get such recommendations. Staffers serving in local units issue recommendations to whomever they please,” he added.

Association of Private Health Institution of Nepal said it was not against the free bed and treatment programme, but the government should ensure that only genuine patients received the services by providing identity cards to the poor and other people who deserve the service.