The insurance service of the Primary Health Center has started from Dhulikhel Hospital

Nepal Health News, Kavrepalanchok:The Primary Health Center located within Dhulikhel Municipality has started providing health insurance services from the building of Dhulikhel Hospital from today. Previously, due to a lack of physical infrastructure and manpower, the center was unable to provide the first service point of health insurance and there were frequent delays.

To make the service more convenient and effective, an "Expanded Health Insurance Service Center" has been established in the hospital building. According to government policy, the first service point of health insurance must be provided by government health institutions, which makes this decision very significant. Since Shrawan 1 (mid-July), Dhulikhel Hospital had been functioning as a referral center as the first service point.

Municipality Chief Ashok Byanju said, "Providing services including doctors, nurses, and medicines within the hospital premises will make it easier for service users. We have planned to collaborate with the hospital to address the lack of physical infrastructure and manpower. Support will also be received from the federal and provincial governments."

Services such as health check-ups and medication treatment will be provided from a room near the white building of Dhulikhel Hospital. It is expected that this will provide easier services to approximately 253,600 service users.

Since Mangsir 1, 2076 BS (mid-November 2019), Methinkot Hospital, Primary Health Centers of Dhulikhel, Sunthan, Khopasi, and Panchkhal were designated as the first service points. However, due to lack of infrastructure and manpower, Dhulikhel and Panchkhal were unable to provide the services.

Political parties, municipal administration, and the health center of Dhulikhel had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Health Minister Pradip Paudel, requesting Dhulikhel Hospital to be made the first service point. The memorandum urged for the arrangement of infrastructure, health equipment, and manpower to establish the hospital as the first service point. Additionally, it demanded the operation of a 15-bed provincial hospital and ensuring quality services at all health posts.