The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Nepal Army have begun talks on opening up the services at the Army’s Shree Birendra Hospital to the general public.

The talks followed after Health Minister Gagan Thapa and Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand’s inspection visit to the hospital facilities in Chhauni, Kathmandu on January 5. The MoH and the Army have expedited talks on allowing the public to access the health services at the Hospital that has been catering to the serving and ex-army personnel, their families.

While preparations are underway for a formal agreement, the MoH has come up with a list of services that the military hospital can possibly offer to the public. This includes opening up of the OPD services to the general public while also making use of the mobile hospital of the Army and deliver services in far-flung areas.  “Also, the Army Hospital will be an ideal place to treat the VVIPs,” said Minister Thapa. “A work plan on VVIP treatment has been already endorsed and hence the Army Hospital will be a suitable facility to promote treatment at home.”

The Cabinet last month endorsed the VVIP treatment work plan, putting a bar on unregulated fund allocation for the treatment of politicians and other influential people in hospitals overseas. Also considered was using of air ambulance while working closely with the Army’s disaster management team.

Minister Thapa said he would lobby with the government to provide the military hospital state funds, similar to the ones currently disbursed to other hospitals across the country. During the talks, NA officials had urged the ministers to increase the post-graduate seats for the Army doctors to more candidates to the job. The Army declined to comment on the matter.