Province 3 government has taken initiatives to upgrade its hospitals.

The provincial Ministry of Social Development prepared a hospital upgradation programme and allocated Rs 95 million this fiscal year to improve eight district hospitals. The provincial administration was concerned as the health facilities were found in poor condition during monitoring at different times.

“In a bid to reform health care, we have disbursed funds to those hospitals that did not receive any grants from the federal government this year,” said Social Development Minister Yubaraj Dulal. The ministry is working to improve health services provided by the public hospitals by preparing working guidelines. “The ministry will support the hospitals to develop physical infrastructure and install necessary tools and technologies,” he added.

According to Dulal, the ministry has prepared working guidelines as many hospitals have a shortage of personnel even to spend their capital budget. The ministry has the policy to provide quality health services from the district hospitals.

The Ministry of Social Development issued Rs 15 million each to Bhaktapur Hospital and Hetauda Hospital. Rs 12.5 million each was given to Trishuli, Sindhuli, Chautara and Dhading hospitals. Ramechhap and Rasuwa hospitals got Rs 10 million and Rs 7.5 million, respectively.

The ministry is preparing to send directives to the district hospitals to provide services as per basic health standards. The ministry had tried to reform the district hospitals last year as well but the efforts were not effective. “We started initiatives to upgrade district hospitals last fiscal year. The ministry hopes the health improvement plan will be successful this year,” said Satish Bista, chief at the Policy and Public Health Division Office of the ministry.

According to Bista, the ministry will regularly monitor the hospitals over the use of the funds. A ministerial team has inspected hospitals in four districts so far.

The district hospitals can buy necessary tools and equipment, construct physical infrastructure and manage medical wastes with the support.