Kathmandu: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has issued a directive to the Ministry of Health and Population, instructing all hospitals to keep their Outpatient Department (OPD) services operational on public holidays.

The directive, sent a few days ago, mandates the Ministry to ensure that all health services, including OPD, remain available even on public holidays. This move follows a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs concerning public holidays and is in line with the provisions under sub-clause 10.1, section (Na) of the special provision related to public service delivery.

The decision aims to address public complaints about the unavailability of health services on certain days. As part of the new directive, all types of hospitals are required to offer their health-related services, including OPD, consistently, regardless of public holidays.

In addition to health services, the OPMCM has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate and monitor the provision of essential services, such as those related to citizenship, national identity cards, passports, and foreign employment, on public holidays.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, confirmed that the Ministry would comply with the OPMCM's instructions regarding the operation of OPD services on public holidays. "We are preparing to notify all hospitals after making a decision within the Ministry," he stated. He also mentioned that discussions are underway to determine how best to manage hospital employees working on public holidays and to finalize the modality for the continuous operation of OPD services.