Hospitals form a rapid response team to handle possible election-day emergencies
Summary
Bir Hospital has formed a rapid response team to manage medical emergencies during Nepal's March 5 parliamentary election amid heightened risk of violence and seasonal influenza spread. Health services like outpatient care will be suspended during election holidays to focus on emergencies.
Key Points
- Bir Hospital formed a 26-member rapid response team to manage medical emergencies during the March 5 parliamentary election.
- The Health Ministry directed all hospitals to stay on standby and form rapid response teams ahead of the elections due to expected emergency influx.
- Health workers are also deployed at polling stations to improve coordination in case of violence or accidents despite initial government requests not to send them.
- There is an increased risk of communicable diseases, including seasonal influenza with new variants, due to crowding and mobility during elections, posing health risks especially to vulnerable groups.
