Editorial | Two-day weekend policy intensifies Nepal’s healthcare problems. Will hospitals listen though?
Summary
The two-day weekend policy in Nepal has intensified challenges in state-run hospitals, worsening access to medical services for the poor and increasing waiting times for surgeries.
Key Points
- Nepal’s healthcare system is overwhelmed with long patient queues and overburdened staff at public hospitals.
- The government introduced a two-day weekend policy affecting hospital operation hours, leading to reduced service availability.
- The Nepal Medical Association declined to operate hospitals on Sundays citing manpower shortages.
- Waiting times for surgeries and diagnostic tests are already lengthy and expected to increase due to reduced working days.
- Experts recommend decentralizing minor surgeries to local hospitals and rescheduling surgeries to prioritize patients travelling from other regions.
