Minister for Health and Population, Dr. Sudha Gautam, has pledged to resolve issues related to public procurement in the health sector.
During her inspection visit to the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) on Tuesday, she stated that onsite inspections of health institutions and hospitals, medicine supply, health service delivery, and the study of insurance schemes would be intensified as part of ongoing health reforms.
She assured that suggestions and recommendations from various stakeholders would be carefully considered, and implementation would be carried out based on actual needs.
Highlighting the scope of reforms, the Minister said, “Reforms in all areas-including mental health, employee-focused programmes, medicine procurement, medical laboratories, and public procurement processes-are essential.” She acknowledged that hospitals are yet to fully meet patient needs and reiterated her commitment to improving the situation.
Dr. Gautam also addressed doctors and hospital staff, noting that the government, formed in the wake of the Gen Z protests, aims to establish a corruption-free and transparent system. She emphasized that the health sector is a critical area requiring adequate attention to achieve this goal.
Urging medical professionals and hospital employees to ensure hassle-free services for patients, Dr. Gautam also requested detailed reporting on preparations for BPKIHS’s upcoming senate meeting.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samchar Samiti)